Opinion ID: 2632238
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Has the privilege evaporated?

Text: Before it addresses the balancing of interests, Gwich'in argues, citing a Washington case, [52] that the privilege evaporates when the decision that the documents preceded is finally made. It argues that because over a year has passed, all the decisions relating to the withheld documents must have been implemented already. The question is not whether the decision has been implemented, or whether sufficient time has passed, but whether disclosure of these preliminary proposals could harm the agency's future decisionmaking by chilling either the submission of such proposals or their forthright consideration. [53] Disclosing proposals madebut not adoptedcould chill the possible future adoption of those or similar proposals, or the relationships between the Office of the Governor and its lobbyists. We therefore hold that the communications have not lost the privilege.