Federal Judge Rejects State Police Union Bid to Block FOI Expansion in Contracts and Discipline.

Senior United States District Judge Charles S. Haight, Jr., Friday denied a request by the Connecticut State Police Union (CSPU) to enjoin the expansion of the Freedom of Information Act to contract and disciplinary matters.

The legislature included in its July police legislation, Public Act 20-1, prohibitions on secrecy that it narrowly enacted in 2019. CSPU, claiming the new law violates the Contracts Clause of the United States Constitution, sought to block the implementation of the law by asking the court for a temporary restraining order. Judge Haight denied the request and established a briefing schedule and set September 1st for oral arguments on what is now an action for a temporary injunction.

“On the present record, Plaintiff [CSPU] has not demonstrated the requisite likelihood of success on the merits of its Contract Clause claim, and irreparable harm to Police Union members between today and the preliminary hearing if a TRO is not issued at this time.”

Oral arguments will be heard on Tuesday, September 1st.