LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An attorney for a west Arkansas city says the state Supreme Court should order legislators to define what constitutes a meeting under the state's Freedom of Information act after a judge ruled part of the law was unconstitutional.
Justices heard arguments Thursday over a Sebastian County judge's ruling that struck down the law's criminal penalty. Arguments focused more on whether a series of one-one-one meetings between a city administrator and board members constituted a meeting.
Fort Smith City Attorney Jerry Canfield said the law is too vague on what constitutes a meeting and said justices should tell the Legislature to define it. An attorney for Joey McCutchen, who had sued the city, said the one-on-one meetings undermined the law by allowing an administrator to secretly pitch an ordinance to directors.
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