FOIA Advisor

Court opinions issued Sept. 21, 2015

Court Opinions (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

Fowlkes v.  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (D.D.C.) -- finding that the Executive Office for United States Attorneys conducted an adequate search for criminal records concerning plaintiff; further finding that ATF properly withheld a firearm trace report (Exemption 3)] and codes and files numbers from a law enforcement information system (Exemption 7(E)).  The court, however, rejected the government's argument that the name of a judge who convened a grand jury could be protected under Exemption 7(C).

Elkins. v. Fed. Aviation Admin. (D.D.C.) -- granting motion for reconsideration based upon FAA's in camera declarations;  concluding that agency properly invoked Exemption 7(E) to protect an airplane radar plot that was compiled in connection with a classified investigation. 

Summaries of all cases since April 2015 are available here.