“When an organization like the University of Wyoming doesn’t give public information, then they set the tone for the next time there’s something that we want to know,” Bohren said. “They’ll never give us any information ever again. So you have to sort these things out; you have to be willing to go to the line. You don’t have to be a jerk about it, but you have to go — you have to enter the fray, and you have to finish. That’s all we’re doing here.”

Unlike states like New York, Wyoming does not have a process in place to appeal the denial of certain records, Moats said, leaving the courts as the only solution available to entities seeking public records.

Only by establishing precedent in the courts, he added, can Wyoming’s public records law truly be defined.

“Law is essentially not only made by the courts but by the practice of government which, in essence, makes law,” Moats said. “If we didn’t contest this action, then we’d basically be allowing that practice of withholding documents we don’t believe should be withheld to not only be used by that particular entity but are likely to be adopted by others as well.”

Follow politics reporter Nick Reynolds on Twitter @IAmNickReynolds

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