Why I Became a Pro Se Litigant for Public Records

Most people assume that government transparency is a given. If you ask for public records, you should receive them. That’s the way it should work, right? The law is on our side, after all. But the reality is far different. Agencies routinely stonewall, deny, delay, and outright ignore public records requests, hoping the requester will give up. In many cases, they are right. Most people don’t have the time, money, or legal knowledge to fight back.

But what happens when you don’t give up? What happens when, like me, you’re forced to become a pro se litigant just to get access to information that should already be public?

When the Government Turns Transparency Laws Against You

I followed the law. I submitted my Right-to-Know (RTK) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests properly. I cited the legal statutes that required agencies to release the records. Yet, instead of receiving the public information I had a right to access, I became the target.

Rather than answering my requests, government agencies questioned me.

My voting records were scrutinized, as if my political affiliation determined my right to public information.
I was labeled anonymous, even though I followed every procedure to identify myself properly.
The Office of Open Records (OOR) and other legal documents deemed me “John Doe,” as if I didn’t exist.
Agencies argued I wasn’t a valid requester, despite clear laws stating that anyone—not just residents, journalists, or lawyers—can request public records.

This was never about whether I had the right to public records. The law is clear. These documents belong to the public. Instead, officials used every technicality and delay tactic possible to make me the issue rather than their refusal to comply with transparency laws.

The only way I could fight back was to become a pro se litigant. Hiring a lawyer would have been expensive, and agencies know that most people can’t afford that kind of legal battle. They count on this fact to discourage people from pursuing their rights.

When agencies deny records unlawfully, there is a process to appeal. First, you go through the OOR, which is supposed to act as an independent body ensuring compliance with the Right-to-Know Law. But what happens when the OOR sides with the agencies?

You sue.

Most people can’t afford an attorney to fight for public records, and agencies count on that fact. They assume that if they drag things out long enough, you will give up. They have lawyers on staff. You? You are on your own unless you take matters into your own hands.

So that’s what I did. I became a pro se litigant, representing myself in court because the alternative was letting the government get away with secrecy. I had to learn legal procedures, draft my own legal briefs, respond to motions, and argue against government attorneys.

All of this was necessary simply because they refused to release records that should have been public in the first place. The more I studied the law, the more I realized that I wasn’t alone. Many pro se litigants are forced to fight their own legal battles, not just for FOIA cases, but across all areas of law where government agencies and institutions fail to uphold citizens’ rights.

Why I Had to Go Pro Se

What I’ve Learned From Taking the Government to Court

The government doesn’t voluntarily follow transparency laws. They will ignore them unless forced to comply.
Judges and oversight bodies often protect agencies rather than the public. Even when the law is clear, they look for ways to justify withholding records.
The burden is always on the requester. Agencies don’t have to justify secrecy unless someone takes legal action against them.
Filing a lawsuit isn’t as difficult as they want you to believe. It’s intimidating at first, but with persistence and research, you can hold them accountable as a pro se litigant.

Why This Matters for Everyone

Most people don’t have the time or legal knowledge to challenge unlawful record denials. That is exactly why agencies get away with violating transparency laws. They know that most people won’t sue, and that if they delay long enough, the story will die, the request will be forgotten, and they can continue operating in the dark.

The more we push back, the harder it becomes for them to hide information. That’s why I created FOIA Buddy—to make it easier for anyone to request records and fight government secrecy. No one should have to become a pro se litigant just to get access to public information.

If the government won’t voluntarily follow the law, we have to force them to. And if that means becoming a pro se litigant, I’ll do it.

Help Us Fight for Transparency

If you believe in government accountability and the right to public information, consider supporting FOIA Buddy. The more people who push back, the harder it becomes for agencies to keep hiding the truth.

Transparency shouldn’t require a lawsuit. But if it does, I’ll be there fighting as a pro se litigant so you don’t have to.

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If you have information about fraud, abuse, or retaliation, contact FOIA Buddy today. Let’s work together to expose the truth, ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice for all.