Requests for access to or copies of county
government public records should be made in writing directly to the department
that has custody of the records. In county government, each elected official is
the public information administrator of his department. No department has
control, possession or authority over the records of any other department. A
request made to the wrong department can cause unnecessary delay. The department
that received a request for records in another department has no duty to forward
the request to the correct department. For additional information concerning
Public Information Act requests go to the Attorney General's website at this
link: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/requestors.shtml.
Some records may be excluded from disclosure by
law. In some instances costs for copying or retrieving records may be
charged.
Judicial records
are not subject to the Public Information Act. Some judicial records may be
available under Rule 12 of the Texas Judicial Administrative Rules. Some may be
open to the public and to copying under the Texas Constitution or the common law
of Texas. Some may not be open to the public. Requests for judicial records
should be made to the clerk of the court or to the judge depending on the type
of record being sought.