Dallas Morning News Watchdog Columnist Dave Lieber quoted Partner William Brewer in a column that appeared on the front page of the March 15, 2019 Metro Section print edition of the newspaper. The column was critical of a recent Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decision striking down a key provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) that outlaws “walking quorums.”
Such walking quorums occur when a governing body meets in a smaller group to avoid a quorum and deliberates on future actions in secret, thus circumventing the TOMA requirement that meetings that constitute a quorum must be held in public. The Storefront, the firm’s pro bono community service affiliate, has previously brought lawsuits under this provision.
Additionally, the column highlighted that Brewer has sued several local school districts over voting rights and also has brought lawsuits over open meetings violations.
Brewer discussed the importance of open government: "People act better when they include all points of view, and they have to make a decision out in the open,” he said. “Government works better in the cleansing light of these sunshine laws.”
DMN Columnist Quotes Partner on Importance of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA)
