The Civil Beat Law Center Is Now The Public First Law Center
The public interest law firm has changed its name and revamped its website.
The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest has a new name — the Public First Law Center.
The law center was launched in 2013 by 天美视频 founder Pierre Omidyar to provide the public and the media with legal help obtaining public records and dealing with issues around open meetings and access to government information.
The first case it tackled turned into an eight-year battle over police misconduct records, a case that ultimately helped convince the Legislature to remove a decades-old exemption that kept police disciplinary files shielded from public scrutiny even though all other public employees’ misconduct records are public.
The new will offer services that include:
鈥 Submitting and presenting testimony before the Legislature and other bodies;
鈥 Giving free legal guidance to the public on access to government information;
鈥 Pressing for improved public access to government information; and
鈥 Providing information on how to submit public records requests in Hawaii.
鈥淎dvocating for the rights of island residents to improve government transparency has always been our top priority,鈥 Brian Black, president and executive director of Public First Law Center, said in a prepared statement. 鈥淭he new name, Public First Law Center, reflects our vision for government in Hawaii that puts the needs of the public first. It also clarifies that we work with and serve everyone in Hawaii and are not lawyers only for 天美视频.鈥
Civil Beat Law Center has often been confused with the Civil Beat news organization, especially by legislators who have sometimes asked why the news outlet is involved in legislation and even by judges and lawyers when the law center but not the news site is pursuing a court case.
In the last decade, according to the statement, Public First Law Center has worked to modernize and improve the public鈥檚 right of access. Efforts include pushing for legislation to bring open meetings into the digital age, requiring disclosure of board packets to better educate the public, and updating procedures for remote meetings following the pandemic. It also advocated to preserve the integrity and purpose of the state agency charged with enforcing the public鈥檚 right of access, the Office of Information Practices.
Other highlights of Public First Law Center鈥檚 achievements over the past decade include:
鈥 Ensuring the public鈥檚 ability to participate in the enactment of laws by enforcing constitutional standards that limit last-minute bills;
鈥 Providing the public with access to learn about the treatment of prisoners;
鈥 Keeping the public informed about health and safety measures, including the right to access inspection reports at biotoxin facilities; and
鈥 Monitoring the public administration of justice in Hawaii鈥檚 courts.
Black, who for years was the sole attorney affiliated with the Civil Beat Law Center, has been joined by Ben Creps, a former deputy attorney general and research attorney for the state Senate.
Public First also hosts a fellowship position, currently held by Gillian Kim. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii law school and worked for the AG’s office and the Navy before becoming a fellow.
