Online publication Civil Beat challenged the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s refusal to disclose any documents concerning its investigations into public corruption and bribery that resulted in the convictions of former State Senator J. Kalani English and former State Representative Ty J.K. Cullen.  The FBI claimed that English and Cullen’s privacy interests outweighed the public’s interest in access to the investigation files.  On April 1, 2025, Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park granted the FBI’s motion for summary judgment, allowing the FBI to withhold its entire investigation except publicly filed court records.  No. 23-CV-216.  Civil Beat appealed to the Ninth Circuit.  No. 25-2383.

• Complaint (5/18/23)
• Answer (6/20/23)
• FBI’s Motion for Summary Judgment (11/4/24)
  • Civil Beat’s Counter-Motion for Summary Judgment (12/20/24)
  • FBI’s Reply (1/22/25)
  • Civil Beat’s Reply (1/29/25)
  • Order Granting FBI’s Motion (4/1/25)
• Notice of Appeal (4/11/25)