Open Government Guide

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Open Records

   II. EXEMPTIONS AND OTHER LEGAL LIMITATIONS

      A. Exemptions in the open records statute.

         1. Character of exemptions.

            a. General or specific?


Statutory exemptions are specific and are to be strictly construed; courts do not have the power to create additional exemptions. See D.C. Code Ann. § 2-537(b); Barry v. Washington Post Co., 529 A.2d at 321. A government agency that wishes to withhold information has the burden of showing an exemption to the D.C. Act applies. See Washington Post Co. v. Minority Bus. Opportunity Comm'n, 560 A.2d 517, 521 (D.C. 1989).



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