Fabulous FOIA Fifty: Practical Litigation Applications for the Freedom of Information Act ECR251015

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

Webinar - CLE Pass Eligible

United States

Presented by the Criminal Justice Section and co-presented by the Young Lawyers Section

About the Program

Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act was signed into law by then Governor Ella Grasso in 1975.  Transparency in government increases both accountability and credibility and benefits both the government and those governed, ideally anyway.  In Connecticut, transparency is not just a lofty goal, it has a structure, namely FOIA.  In this golden anniversary year, we can celebrate the goal of open government, transparency, accountability, and sunshine being the best disinfectant.  Please join us for this 90-minute webinar as we hear from three professionals who all interact with this framework to do their jobs.  We will hear about the nuts and bolts of the process from Russell Blair of the Freedom of Information Commission and hear both Attorney Kevin Smith and investigative journalist David Altimari share practical applications of the FOIA to real world situations.  The webinar ends with a question-and-answer period.

You Will Learn

  • How to apply the provisions of the FOIA for investigation and litigation.

Who Should Attend

Attorneys and staff who investigate cases for litigation and attorneys interested in open government.

Cost

Criminal Justice and Young Lawyer Section Member $37
Member $52
CLE Pass Holder $0 (you must have purchased the CLE Pass to register as a CLE Pass holder)
Student Member $0

Non-Member $104

Please log into your account to receive CBA member pricing.

Financial hardship information is available upon request.

Speakers

Dave Altimari David Altimari
CT Mirror, Hartford

russell_blair_foi Russell Blair
Freedom of Information Commission, Hartford

Kevin-Smith-Standing Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith Attorney at Law LLC, New Haven

Moderator

Cynthia Barlow1 Cynthia Barlow
Office of the Public Defender, Rockville


CLE Credit

CT: 1.5 CLE Credits (General)
NY: 1.5 CLE Credits (AOP)
 
The Connecticut Bar Association/CT Bar Institute is an accredited provider of New York State CLE. This program qualifies for newly admitted and experienced attorneys CLE credits. 

Attorneys seeking NY CLE credit who have been admitted to the New York State Bar for two years or less must attend the live seminar for skills or ethics credit, a fully interactive videoconference, or simultaneous transmission with synchronous interactivity. Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias CLE credits are only available as non-transitional credits. For further information please see the NYCourts.gov page on CLE: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/index.shtml. 

If the seminar is recorded, all member registrants will receive complimentary access to the recording approximately six weeks after the program. 

Please note that refunds will not be granted once course materials have been sent. Cancellations made less than 2 business days prior to event are non-refundable.

Closed captioning will be available during the seminar presentation for virtual attendees. 
 


Contact

Member Service Center
Email: msc@ctbar.org
Phone: (844)469-2221