ethics how does learning about ethics differ from learning about other stuff? what ethical rules...
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Ethics
How does learning about ethics differ from learning about other stuff?
What ethical rules will provide infallible guidance for dealing with every situation?
What can you do to reduce risk in this area?
“Problems” in Ethics: Ethics as Values
“Legal” equals “ethical.” True or False? Don’t question my ethics.Your ethical standards are always subject to question.Which is more believable: spicy, simple stories or the dull, complicated truth?Where there’s smoke, there’s … (a) fire, or (b) a powerful enemy with a fancy smoke machine?
What Rules Work All the Time?
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission Rules?
Your own board’s ethics policy?
The Golden Rule?
The 9 ½ Commandments?
None of the above?
What can (and should) you do?
Refresh your knowledge of the legal rules
Revisit your own board’s policy periodically
Seek board consensus on values, perks, etc
Make early disclosure of potential conflicts
Know when to consult your lawyer
ONE. Thou art a Regent,
a Regent hath the Governor created you, a Regent only art thou, and thou shalt hold no other office but this one --- and a few other specified in law. [51 O.S., §6.]
TWO.Yearly thou shalt sacrifice
to the priesthood of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission some (but not very much) financial information about thyself. [74 O.S., Appendix, 257:15-1-7.]
THREE.Thou shalt not receive,
directly or indirectly, any interest, profit or perks, from the use of public monies in your hands.In other words, thou shalt not do business with the institutions thou govern. [Okla. Const., Art. X, §11] …. BUT,
THREE “A.” The OEC readeth not this part of the Constitution
The hand of the lawgiver slipp-est and the etching on the stone tablets blur-est. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission apparently readeth not this part of the Constitution. It sayeth that thou mayst do such business with your institutions if thou disclose fully your interest, on the record, and abstain from voting. That which is an abomination unto the Constitution is acceptable in the sight of the OEC. [20-1-10.] How can this be? Better not to guess.
The Attorney General issued an official opinion in December, 2004.
Article X, Section 11 controls over the Ethics Commission Rules, according to the Attorney General:
“Thus, although the rule of the Ethics Commission is more liberal, allowing relatively generous exceptions for public members of boards and commissions, we conclude that compliance with such ethics rules will not, and cannot, guarantee that an officer engaging in such conduct will not be subject to criminal sanction and disqualification to hold office under Article X, Section 11 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Conduct that avoids violation of the conflict of interest principles set out in Article X, Section 11 will also avoid violation of the Ethics Commission rules, but not vice versa. If a public member of a board engages in conduct allowed under the provisions of [the Ethics Commission Rules], he or she runs the risk of violating the more stringent constitutional prohibitions.
The Ethics Commission Rules cannot be read as granting an exception to the Article X, Section 11 prohibition.
Whether a public officer would be prosecuted for a conflict of interest under Article X, Section 11 rests in sound discretion of the district attorney with jurisdiction over the matter. Whether a particular offense is prosecuted as a crime under Article X, Section 11 is a matter of prosecutorial discretion.”
State officers, including regents, had come to rely on the guidance provided by the Ethics Commission The rules provided a little certainty in an otherwise uncertain area
Meeting with Attorney General’s office First Assistant Attorney General Tom Gruber
o Would expect local district attorney to use common sense, which would include a “de minimis” standard
State officers, including regents, had come to rely on the guidance provided by the Ethics Commission The rules provided a little certainty in an otherwise uncertain area
Meeting with Attorney General’s office First Assistant Attorney General Tom Gruber
• would expect local district attorney to use common sense, which would include a “de minimis” standard
• de minimis non curat lex – “The law does not take notice of very small or trifling matters.”
FOUR. It is not sufficient that thou art required to abstain from voting
on any matter in which thou hast a pecuniary interest.
Even greater purity is required. Thou must keep unto thyself and refrain from trying to influence those brethren and sistern who are allowed to vote on your deal. [20-1-8]
FIVE. Lawyers are especially accursed in the
sight of the Ethics Commission. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a lawyer to serve happily as a Regent. In addition to the afore-inscribed no-nos, (e.g., not doing business with thine institutions) lawyers shalt not even represent entities that do business with the institutions they governst. Lawyers, having eaten at the tree of law school, are further accursed with knowledge of all the subtleties embodied in the term “represent.” [20-1-6.]
SIX.Thou shall beware of geeks
bearing gifts. The rules on accepting gifts are fully understandable only to the rule-making gods. It were better for you to rend your garments and pour ashes over your head than to accept a gift prohibited by law. [20-1-9.]
SEVEN.Thou shalt not hire thine own
relatives to work for the institutions thou govern,
even though they may be more capable than someone else’s relatives. [21 O.S., §§481-7.]
EIGHT.Thou shalt not use thy
position to secure special treatment for thyself,
or for thy friends and family, by the institutions they govern. [20-1-4.]
NINE. Though shouldst not use thy position to further a political agenda that has nothing to do
with your official duties. [20-1-4.]
Political CampaignActivities
OEC Rules
Prohibits advocacy activities by state employees on behalf of candidate or ballot measure
Use of public funds, property, time
State resources may not be used to support the political activities of a Regent
Exception to OEC prohibition
Statements made in performance of officer or employees “duties”
Or, as allowed by law (statute)
Restriction on exceptionStatute does not trump OEC rule
Must be read to harmonize with rule
Penalties
OEC authorized by Constitution, Art. 29 §4(a) to
Establish civil fines.• Willful – up to $50K
• Inadvertent – up to $15K
Prosecute violations in state court
Statutory provision- misdeameanor criminal liability – 26 O.S., §16-119
Summary
Impossible to list all activities permittedOr, not permitted
Use common sense in good faith
Consult with legal counsel
Legal counsel may want to engage OEC and/or AG
The Oklahoma Open Meetings Act
What You Should Know
Who is covered?
All public bodies
Does not include staff employees purely advisory groups
What is a “meeting”?
A meeting occurs when a majority of a public
body are physically together “conducting public business” -- even if no action is planned or taken.
Types of “Meetings”
Regular
Special
Emergency
Regular Meetings
Dates are set in December for the following year
Must give 10 days notice prior to changing meeting date
Special Meetings
Includes meetings such as COW or SPRRequires 48 hours advance notice
Emergency Meetings
Lawful only when life and/or property are threatened and threat was not reasonably foreseeableRequires “reasonable” notice
Meeting Places
Time and place must be convenient to the public
Committee Meetings
Not covered unless committee has actual or de facto decision-making power
Meeting Notices
Provide notice to the Secretary of State indicating time, date, space and place of meetingPost meeting agenda 24 hours prior to meeting
Agenda Requirements
List all items of business to be transacted, including discussion items and executive session itemsDescribe in plain language; use sentencesIdentify as “action,” “possible action” or “discussion only”
Executive Sessions
For discussions about the employment status of an individual employee
For confidential communications with the public body’s attorney about a pending investigation, claim or lawsuit
Meeting Minutes
Written minutes must show, at a minimum, those members present and absent, all matters considered and all actions taken
Minutes of executive sessions are required but are not open records and thus may be segregated from public minutes
COW and SPR meetings are special meetings and are subject to this requirement
Potential Problem Areas
Polling for votes by telephone or otherwise
Sub-quorum committees having de facto decision-making power
Discussion only meetings
Social gatherings involving a majority of the members
Penalties for Violations
Actions taken in willful violation of the act are null and void.
Willful violations of the Act are misdemeanors punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and/or imprisonment in the County jail not to exceed one year.“Willful” does not require intent to break the
law
Coughing It Up
Adventures in Open Records in the Electronic Age
What Are the Issues?
Volume of records: do we know what we have?
Multiple “publishers” internally: do we know what we have?
Unmediated access to web-based records
What is really confidential?
Analyzing ORA Questions
Are you a public body?
Is it a record?
Is it a public record?
Is it exempt under the ORA?
Is it exempt under Oklahoma law?
Does it fit the federal exemption?
Who is covered?
All public bodies
Does not include staff employees purely advisory groups
What Is a Record?Includes all documentsPapersComputer disksEmailsSound recordingsCreated by or in the possessionOf officials or employees
In connection with
Transaction of public business
Expenditure of public funds
Administering of public property
ORA and Records Management Act both apply
Test for email same as other documents
Is saving hard copy always good enough?
How to redact the electronic version?
Protecting the integrity of records
From: Nat. Assoc. of Col. And Univ. Attorneys on behalf ofSent: Wed. 5/3/2006 6:04 PMTo: [email protected]
Have any private, non-medical institutions transitioned to an interpretation that tenure does not guarantee a specific or recurring level of salary or compensation for faculty?
Any policies or written materials relevant to this matter would be appreciated.
Date: Wed., 3 May 2006 18:42:27 -0070From:Subject: Re: Tenure and Guaranteed Salary
I’ve got to leave for my meeting now and won’t be back
till around 10:00 and you will be asleep. Good night,
baby. I miss you, but will see you soon. I wish I could
give you a nice long sensual kiss before you go to bed,
but I’ll save it for when I come out there. Isn’t it funny
how it worked out after all. Sleep well. All my love,
If Public Record, Must Disclose ----- Unless
Exempt under the ORA
Exempt under other Oklahoma law
Exempt under federal law
ORA Exemptions
Some privileged material (e.g., executive session, attorney client)
Some personnel records
Some law enforcement records
Some student records
Some proprietary material
Preliminary notes
Other Oklahoma Laws
Over 140 statutes provide confidentiality
Many juvenile records (also school children)
Tax records
Retirement systems (individual records)
Licensing boards’ disciplinary proceedings
The Federal Exemption
Records coming from federal government
OR
Gathered as a result of federal legislation
AND
Required by federal law to be kept confidential
Disclosure Is the Rule
Must disclose unless specific exemption applies
No individual right of privacy apart from specific exemptions to ORA
Government bears burden of proving exemption from disclosure
Does It Matter Who Asks? Or Why?
Normally, no BUT
Special recognition for news media
Also for citizens acting in public interest
BUT purely commercial requests subject to search fee
Note: special rules on personnel files
What If You Don’t Comply?
Criminal penalties: misdemeanor liability for willful violations ($500 and/or 1 year)
No liability for producing open records
Institution pays attorney’s fee for successful requester
No recovery for successful defender unless request was “clearly frivolous”
Student Records
ORA intended to mesh with FERPA
If differences, FERPA controls
Bottom line, confidentiality of individual student records maintained, except directory information
Scope of Public Access
General rule: records open for inspection, copying and/or mechanical reproductionCan/must segregate (redact) exempt material from otherwise open recordMust produce records within “reasonable” timeMust have someone available to decide what’s open
Personnel Records: What’s Confidential?
Internal personnel investigative materials
Examination and selection material
Records from lawful executive session
Payroll deductions
Employee evaluations
Applications of persons not hired
Home addresses, phone numbers, and SSNs
Personnel Records: What’s Open?
Everything else, including
Application of person hired
Gross receipt of public funds
Dates of employment, title (or position)
Result of final disciplinary action
Employee Records: Who May Inspect and Copy?
Current employees
Past employees (unclear but probably yes)
Authorized representatives of employees (document authority of representative)
Attorney-supervised Investigations
Investigative reports
Litigation files
Ties in with attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrines
Conclusion
Strong public policy for disclosure
The AG is usually pro-disclosure
If no exemption, think disclosure
If disclosure is optional, review reasons for non-disclosure
Ask question: why not disclose?
THE ETHICS OF OPENNESS
Challenges for Government Officials
and Their Lawyers
Common Dilemmas
Desire for private discussions on hot topics.Fear of media criticism if you get it “wrong” even if you’re “right” on the law. Fear of second guessing by AG.Everyone’s an expert on what’s open and/or ethical.
Ethical Issues (Lawyers)
Is technical compliance good enough?
How to resolve differences among “clients”
What client secrets are confidential?
Suppose client won’t comply?
See the Big Picture
For the OFFICIAL:Openness issues are:• Big picture.• Public perception.• Public policy.
Technical compliance with the law is not always enough.
See the Big Picture (Continued)
For the LAWYER:Openness issues are:• Big picture.• Public perception.• Public policy.
Avoid having your role limited to matters of purely technical compliance with the law.
Truth Telling
Officials: expect your lawyer to always give you candid legal advice.
Lawyers: always “call ‘em like you see ‘em.”
Know Who The Client Is
Officials: always remember who the client really is (it’s the agency you work for, not you) and understand where you fit in the overall picture.
Lawyers: always remember who the client really is (help constituents understand where they fit in the overall picture).
What Is Lawyerly Discretion?
Officials: try to raise delicate legal issues in private but always assume your lawyer’s advice will be made public.
Lawyers: always try to provide your advice in private; always assume your advice will be made public.
Where’s the Attorney General?
Officials: expect your lawyer to be familiar with the attorney general’s current advice on openness issues. (His/her view will always trump your lawyer’s.)Lawyers: try to stay in touch with the attorney general’s advice on openness issues. (His/her view will always trump yours).
You Have to Know the TerritoryOfficials: familiarize yourself with the openness practices of other, similar public bodies.
You Have to Know the Territory (Continued)
Lawyers: unless ethical considerations require you to do otherwise, avoid being the lone wildebeest on the Serengeti.
Criminal LiabilityOfficials: remember that there is potential criminal-liability card for violations of the openness laws. If you are in doubt about that, ask your lawyer.
Lawyers: don’t play the potential-criminal-liability card unless you really need it but don’t hesitate to play it (privately, if possible) if you must.
What Difference Does It Make?
Officials: if confidentiality isn’t mandated or otherwise justified, always ask yourself what the harm is in releasing a particular record
Lawyers: if confidentiality isn’t mandated or otherwise justified, always ask the client what the harm is in releasing a particular record
Be Prepared
Officials: always have your lawyer review a proposed meeting agenda well in advance of the meeting.
Lawyers: always review a proposed meeting agenda in advance of the meeting (in time to comment, constructively if possible).
Be Educated
Officials: ask your attorney for periodic briefings on current openness issues, especially in emerging areas.
Lawyers: look for, and exploit, opportunities to educate the client about openness issues, especially in emerging areas (e.g., email).
Duty of Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an ethical duty: the attorney is obligated not to reveal information given by the client in confidence for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal assistance.
Doesn’t apply to fraud or crime.
It’s the same duty for government and private lawyers.
Attorney-client Privilege
The privilege is a rule of evidence.
It belongs to the client.
It allows the client to refuse to disclose or to prevent the disclosure of communications facilitating the provision of legal services.
Some exceptions – fraud, etc
Attorney-client Privilege for Public Officers and Agencies
The privilege is limited to pending investigations or litigation.
“Ordinary” legal advice to public officials not covered by the privilege.
Privilege destroyed by communication to non-client third parties.
Advice: How Technical?
Is the client experienced in legal matters?A lawyer may refer not only to law but to other relevant considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors.A lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice.
Ethics: What-Me Worry?
Moral and ethical considerations impinge upon most legal questions and may decisively influence how the law will be applied.
Is the “Customer” Always Right?
Normally, a lawyer is required to abide by a client’s decisions concerning the goals of representation.”
A government lawyer may have authority to question the client’s conduct more extensively than a lawyer for a private organization in similar circumstances.
What If the Client Wants to Do Something Wrong?
Legal advice often involves unpleasant facts and alternatives that a client may be disinclined to confront.
A lawyer should not be deterred from giving candid advice by the prospect that the advice will be unpalatable to the client.
A client is entitled to straightforward advice expressing the lawyer’s honest assessment.
What Is the Lawyer’s Duty?If it’s a violation of law for the organization, and
Is likely to result in substantial injury to the organization,
The lawyer shall proceed in the best interest of the organization
Doing the Right ThingTo do the right thing you have to know the right thing: education.
Avoiding embarrassing mistakes requires thinking ahead: preparation.
Government lawyers should know their clients’ plans: communication.
The legal requirements should be viewed in the context of good public policy: wisdom.
Questions?