In Wisconsin, the Democratic secretary of state, Sarah Godlewski, has resolved an open records lawsuit filed by a conservative policy group. The Institute for Reforming Government sought records related to Godlewski’s appointment in 2023. The group’s request, filed the day Gov. Tony Evers appointed Godlewski, went unanswered for 189 days. Initially, Godlewski claimed she had no responsive records, but after the lawsuit, she provided emails from her private account discussing personal and state business matters that were sent to her predecessor’s email.
Under the settlement, Godlewski agreed to promptly respond to future open records requests, even if no records exist, and to check private emails used for state business for responsive documents. Institute for Reforming Government’s President CJ Szafir and attorney Lucas Vebber from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, representing IRG, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, ensuring adherence to state law.
The settlement, which awaits approval from the Republican-controlled budget committee, mandates Godlewski to respond promptly to requests. Her appointment by Evers in 2023 came after her predecessor’s sudden resignation. Despite allegations of favoritism, Godlewski has refuted claims that her appointment was a political reward.
The role of the secretary of state’s office in Wisconsin primarily excludes involvement in election management compared to other states.
