Tennessee Open Meetings Dispute Leads to Calls for Ombuds

In response to a dispute between the State Ethics Commission and the Tennessee Bar Association over open government laws, the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has called for creation of an ombudsman. Frank Gibson, executive director of TCOG, said the creation of an independent authority on open government matters could help resolve the kinds of disputes that arose Tuesday. "It certainly speaks for the need to have an independent office, independent of the Legislature, the executive branch, the judiciary, the attorney general _ and independent of any group that might become subject to complaints," Gibson said. (Associated Press.)