{"id":2470090,"date":"2025-08-02T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T20:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-rules-private-text-messages-were-public-record-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T16:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T20:37:17","slug":"appeals-court-rules-private-text-messages-were-public-record-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-rules-private-text-messages-were-public-record-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court rules private text messages were public record &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-rules-private-text-messages-were-public-record-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2470090&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Wisconsin appeals court has ruled that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/msnbc-guest-al-qaeda-terrorists-have-got-nothing-on-the-republican-party\/\" title=\"MSNBC Guest: Al-Qaeda Terrorists Have \u2018Got Nothing On\u2019 The Republican Party\">private text messages<\/a> and messages sent through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-biden-admin-considering-using-private-firms-to-conduct-warrantless-surveillance-of-u-s-citizens\/\" title=\"CNN: Biden Admin Considering Using Private Firms To Conduct Warrantless Surveillance Of U.S. Citizens\">private messaging apps<\/a> by public officials concerning public business are considered public records. In the case Midwest Environmental advocates v. Prehn, the court determined that former Natural Resources Board Chair Frederick Prehn unlawfully withheld such records, wich included texts with then-Governor Scott Walker. the ruling emphasizes transparency and accountability in government, allowing the recovery of legal fees when public records are improperly withheld. Advocates say the decision supports open government and strengthens democracy by ensuring officials conduct business openly.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Appeals court rules private text messages were public record<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2195230\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Wisconsin<\/a> public officials cannot hide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">private<\/a> text messages and messages on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >private messaging apps involving public business<\/a> and they are accountable for legal fees in cases where the court finds the records should be released, a Wisconsin appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">court<\/a> ruled.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling came in Midwest Environmental Advocates v. Prehn, a case involving whether former Natural Resources Board Chair Frederick Prehn had unlawfully withheld public records that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-truly-impartial-jury-is-hard-to-come-by\/\" title=\"Finding a Completely Fair Jury is Challenging\">included text messages<\/a> with then-Gov. Scott Walker regarding Prehn&rsquo;s plans to remain in office after his term.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3489502\/democratic-states-sue-trump-administration-youth-transgender-care\/\">Democratic states sue Trump administration over youth transgender-related care order<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3489555\/illegal-immigrants-accused-of-trying-to-run-over-ice-officers\/\">Illegal immigrants accused of trying to run over ICE officers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3489543\/nevada-wrestles-with-possibility-of-fema-cuts\/\">Nevada wrestles with possibility of FEMA cuts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/midwestadvocates.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/MEA-v-Prehn-Court-of-Appeals-Decision.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">This decision<\/a>&nbsp;is a win for the people of Wisconsin,&rdquo; Midwest Staff Attorney Adam Voskuil said in a statement. &ldquo;It strengthens our democracy by ensuring that government officials conduct their business with openness and transparency. Had Prehn&rsquo;s arguments been accepted, the public records law and our state&rsquo;s commitment to open government would have been significantly weakened.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3482110\/wisconsin-sara-rodriguez-2026-gubernatorial-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">WISCONSIN LT. GOV SARA RODRIGUEZ LAUNCHES 2026 GUBERNATORIAL BID AFTER TONY EVERS BOWS OUT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A lower court had ruled that the case did not require legal fees be paid because the records were released during the legal proceedings before they were complete.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The ability to recover attorney&rsquo;s fees is vital for journalists and for other groups and individuals who are forced to take legal action to secure their rights under the public records law,&rdquo; Midwest Staff Attorney Rob Lee said in a statement. &ldquo;We are pleased the court&rsquo;s decision maintains this important component of public transparency and open government in Wisconsin.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2195230\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2195230\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appeals court: Private texts on public business are records<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2470091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/text-messages-phone-texting-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32324,36794,60498,60499,32076],"class_list":["post-2470090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-appeals-court","tag-legal-ruling","tag-private-text-messages","tag-public-record","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/text-messages-phone-texting-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470090"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470094,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470090\/revisions\/2470094"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}