Thousands of DAPL documents declared public records

(Bismarck, ND) -- A North Dakota judge has ruled that thousands of Dakota Access Pipeline security records are public and open records.  

South Central District Judge Cynthia Feland made the ruling Friday in favor of The Intercept. The news organization sued in November 2020 to get access to the documents for investigative works dealing with "environmental justice, the treatment of Indigenous peoples and workers, and government efforts to suppress First Amendment-protected activities."  

North Dakota Newspaper Association attorney Jack McDonald says the ruling establishes that records possessed by public entities are public records.