Unpublished research by university scientists is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act

The Washington Post ^ | April 17, 2014 | Tom Jackman

[Timber Rattler]

Unpublished research by university scientists is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday, rejecting an attempt by skeptics of global warming to view the work of a prominent climate researcher during his years at the University of Virginia.

The ruling is the latest turn in the FOIA request filed in 2011 by Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William) and the American Tradition Institute to obtain research and e-mails of former U-Va. professor Michael Mann.

[Tzimisce]

....so climate research is exempt from FOIA, but national and military secrets are not?

[SunkenCiv]

Hockey Stick alert.

[Jean S]

Here is the Virginia Freedom of Information Act section at the crux of the case, one of the law’s exemptions from disclosure:

“Data, records or information of a proprietary nature produced or collected by or for faculty or staff of public institutions of higher learning…in the conduct of or as a result of study or research on medical, scientific, technical or scholarly issues…where such data, records or information has not been publicly released, published, copyrighted or patented.”

[1010RD]

But if you donate any money to a conservative cause, like say Prop 8, that’s public information.

Private funds to a private organization = public.

Public funds to a public institution = private.

That makes sense.