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TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court has refused to take an appeal from a lower court ruling that says the public has no right to speak at meetings of government bodies.
The decision is a setback for open government because city councils, county boards and other governmental bodies don't have to give the public "the time of day," First Amendment Foundation director Jim Rhea said Tuesday.
The media-supported, nonprofit foundation advocates for open meetings and records.
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a brief order declining jurisdiction in the case.
The 1st District Court of Appeal in March rejected claims by two people that Pensacola's Community Maritime Park Associates had violated Florida's open meetings law by refusing to let them speak.
Florida's open government, or "sunshine," law covers the private organization because it's overseeing a public park project. The law says meetings of such bodies must be "open to the public."
A three-judge panel of the appeal court ruled that phrase means the public has a right only to attend such meetings.
The Supreme Court on Oct. 13 also declined to take up a similar appeal from a 1st District ruling in a case involving the Alachua City Commission.
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