On January 27, 2026, the North Dakota Attorney General’s office issued an opinion regarding the actions of the Ransom County Commission. The opinion was requested by Lynn Gonzalez, who questioned whether the Commission had acted in accordance with state law when it required her to sign a document before receiving open records.
The inquiry centered on whether this requirement violated North Dakota Century Code section 44-04-18, which governs access to public records. According to the Attorney General’s office, “The Commission violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by requiring Ms. Gonzalez to sign an acknowledgment as a condition of receiving open records.”
A full copy of the opinion can be accessed at Link to opinion 2026-O-03.
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