Knox County Circuit Clerk not subject to FOIA; PAC closes case

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Dear

This determination letter is issued pursuant to section 9.5(c) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140/9.5(c) (West 2023 Supp.)). For the reasons set forth below, the Public Access Bureau concludes that no further inquiry is warranted.

On February 12, 2025, you sent an e-mail to Knox County ( County) requesting the names and addresses of all jurors, including alternates that sat for the above trial." The County denied your request, citing " the Circuit Clerk exemption" and referencing " Copley Press, Inc. v. Administrative Office of Courts." 1 On March 3, 2025, you submitted a Request for Review to this office seeking our review of the denial.

FOIA governs requests for public records maintained by public bodies. See 5 ILCS 140/1 (West 2022). Section 2(a) of FOIA (5 ILCS 140/2(a) ( West 2023 Supp.)) defines a public body" as:

A]ll legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts and all other municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees, or commissions of this State, any subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing including but not limited to committees and subcommittees thereof[.]

Although you sent your FOIA request to the County Clerk, records that would identify jurors who sat for a specific case would be in the possession of the Knox County Circuit Court or the Knox County Circuit Clerk, if the records were created. See Ill. Att'y Gen. Req. Rev. Ltr. 79328, issued December 19, 2023 ( concluding that e-mails pertaining to the transaction of business by the circuit clerk's office are records of the judiciary and therefore not subject to FOIA even if the e-mails are maintained on a shared e-mail server operated by the county). The Knox County Circuit Court and the Knox County Circuit Clerk are judicial offices, and their records are not subject to FOIA. Accordingly, the Public Access Bureau has determined that no further action is warranted in this matter.

This file is closed. If you have any questions, please contact me at leah.bartelt@ilag. gov or the Chicago address listed on the bottom of the first page of this letter.

Very truly yours, LEAH BARTELT Public Access Counselor Public Access Bureau 85534 f no fi war not a pb cc: Via electronic mail Mr. Scott G. Erickson, CCO Knox County Clerk and Recorder 200 South Cherry Street Galesburg, Illinois 61401 serickson@knoxcountyil. gov