Opinion ID: 2358793
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was the May 20 order proper?

Text: ¶ 18 In order to prevail in a challenge to the production of records under the PRA, a party must establish a specific exemption that bars production of the requested records. RCW 42.56.070(1); Progressive Animal Welfare Soc'y v. Univ. of Wash., 125 Wash.2d 243, 251, 884 P.2d 592 (1994) ( PAWS II ). As noted, the PRA reflects a strong public policy favoring the disclosure and production of information, and exemptions are to be narrowly construed. RCW 42.56.030. Moreover, a party opposing the production of public records must establish that production would clearly not be in the public interest and would substantially and irreparably damage any person, or would substantially and irreparably damage vital governmental functions. RCW 42.56.540; see Soter v. Cowles Publ'g Co., 162 Wash.2d 716, 756-57, 174 P.3d 60 (2007). ¶ 19 Judge Serko identified RCW 42.56.540 as the relevant exemption allowing her to enjoin production of the requested records under the PRA, premised on a concern for the respondents' fair trial rights. Respondents offer two additional exemptionsaddressing work product and investigative records. We begin our analysis with those exemptions.