Harford County Courts Punish Administration for Third Transparency Violation | The Locally Times
Harford County Courts Punish Administration for Third Transparency Violation
Harford County taxpayers are paying the price for a government that prefers the courtroom to the public record. In less than a year, the Cassilly administration has been found in violation of the Maryland Public Information Act three separate times, forcing residents to seek judicial intervention just to access documents that are legally required to be public. ## A Pattern of Legal Defeat The most recent judicial rebuke arrived on December 1, 2025, marking the third time a court has ruled against the county’s refusal to disclose information. This follows a September 15, 2025, court order that finally forced the release of budget session notes after a 16-month delay. Official archives from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office confirm this timeline of administrative friction, documenting a clear, recurring failure to comply with state transparency statutes. While the sheriff’s records do not specify the nature of the documents involved in the third violation, the frequency of these losses points to a systemic breakdown in how the county handles information requests. Every time the county loses a public records lawsuit, it incurs legal fees that are ultimately paid by the public—the very people being denied the information necessary to evaluate local policy and spending. ## The Price of Secrecy Transparency is the only tool residents have to hold their government accountable, yet the administration’s 16-month delay in releasing budget notes effectively shielded financial decision-making from public view for over a year. When a court order becomes the only way to secure public documents, the standard administrative process is clearly failing. Beyond the loss of oversight, these lawsuits drain judicial resources and public funds that could otherwise support community services. Unlike other Maryland public institutions operating under the same state mandates, Harford County’s administration has repeatedly prioritized litigation over disclosure, creating a government that operates behind a persistent veil of secrecy. ## Accountability in Question As of today, April 13, 2026, the administration has taken no public remedial action to prevent a fourth violation. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office portal confirms the three past rulings but contains no evidence of new internal training or policy changes designed to bring the county into compliance. Without a shift in procedure, residents seeking to understand school funding, safety initiatives, or administrative spending remain forced to rely on the judiciary to unlock basic government data. ## Key Questions **How many times has the county been found in violation of public records laws?** Official records from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office confirm the administration has been found in violation of the Maryland Public Information Act three times since 2025. **What was the result of the September 2025 court ruling?** A judge ordered the release of Harford County budget session notes after the county withheld them for 16 months.