Nov 2, 2020: Census Records Must Be Shared Before Reappointment, Judge Rules

Several federal agencies must expedite Freedom of Information Act requests for documents regarding the 2020 census because the records will become stale after the congressional reapportionment process ends, a federal judge said. The Commerce Department is required to conduct the census every 10 years, partly to determine congressional district maps based on population changes. The Brennan Center for Justice sought records from the agencies in early July after concerns were raised about the problems of fact gathering during a pandemic and whether the census form should include questions about citizenship. The Brennan Center, at the New York University School of Law, sought a preliminary injunction in September to force the agencies to expedite the processing of its FOIA requests. It wanted the documents released by Nov. 2. Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia partially granted the injunction Oct. 30, but he gave federal authorities until Jan. 11 to produce the materials.