Ohio Supreme Court Restricts Public Officials' Use of Private Email

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that private prearranged discussion of public business, whether in person or electronically, is a violation of the Ohio Open Meetings Act if the discussion involves a majority of a public body's members. 

 

In a 5-2 ruling, the court ruled that email correspondence between four board of education members and the school superintendent from the Olentangy School District in Delaware County constituted public business. Together, via email, the prepared a response to an editorial in The Columbus Dispatch that they found displeasing.  

 

The fifth member of the school board appealed the action to the Supreme Court after his opening meetings lawsuit was dismissed at trial level and his appeal was rejected by the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals.