Presiding Judge Jayson M. Clark issued a letter on Mar. 18 banning the Saline County Board from holding its meetings in the county courthouse, following concerns about compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
The decision comes after reports that the board had prevented attendees from recording open public meetings, citing an Administrative Order signed by the Chief Judge in 2024. The move highlights ongoing tensions between local government procedures and state transparency laws.
In his letter, Clark stated, “The Open Meetings Act grants the ‘RIGHT to record’ to any person attending any open public meeting in the state of Illinois, no matter where that meeting is located.” He also wrote, “For a Judge to argue that the county board could not comply with the OMA and with the Administrative Order is ridiculous – there is simply no possible way for the county board to comply with both. The AO prohibits recording and the OMA demand public bodies hold their meetings in location where attendees can exercise their statutory right to record.” Clark further noted, “No amount of government recording devices or cameras can replace the individual right to record. There are many situations where a public body ‘accidentally’ loses controversial portions of meetings and if private record devices were prohibited, those portions would be lost forever.”
According to Edgar County Watchdogs’ official website, their reporting covers issues across Illinois and aims to foster accountability, truth and transparency in local governance through document-based journalism. The organization promotes informed communities by enhancing oversight of local governing entities through accessible public information according to its official website. Edgar County Watchdogs relies on support from small individual donations according to its official website and features members affiliated with organizations like Investigative Reporters and Editors as well as notable figures such as John Kraft and Kirk Allen among its editors, authors and researchers according to its official website.
Following Judge Clark’s directive, the Saline County Board has moved its next meeting to a local community building.
This development underscores ongoing debates over access and transparency at public meetings throughout Illinois.
