Recently in The Sentinel Colorado v. Rodriguez, the Colorado Supreme Court held that a news organization qualifies as a “citizen” under the Colorado Open Meetings Law (COML), allowing organizations and corporate entities to recover attorney fees when pursuing open-meetings claims.
The case began after a 2022 executive session of the Aurora City Council regarding the potential censure of Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky. During the closed meeting, the council voted to end the censure investigation and cover attorney fees — a decision the courts later deemed a “formal action” that must occur publicly. The Sentinel Colorado sought access to the meeting recording and litigated the issue, eventually prompting the question of whether a media organization could recover attorney fees under COML.
The ruling clarifies that institutional plaintiffs may challenge alleged COML violations and seek fee recovery, while public bodies and other public-facing organizations should continue to ensure clear notices, lawful executive-session procedures, and transparent documentation.
Read the Full Decision Here: The Sentinel Colorado v. Rodriguez