Georgia Supreme Court rules Open Records Act applies to private contractors working for governments

A state Supreme Court’s decision reversing a lower court’s ruling that a private contractor was exempt from the Georgia Open Records Act is being hailed as a win for open government.

The court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a private contractor working for a public entity is still subject to the law and can be sent requests for public records they may possess.

At issue was whether a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who also does work for the college through his two companies is subject to the law and whether he should be considered a custodian of the public records in his possession.