Press Release 9/26/25
Conservation Coalition of Washington and Sportsmen’s Alliance Join Forces for Legal Action on Public Records Transparency
The Conservation Coalition of Washington (CCW) filed an amicus brief yesterday requesting Washington Supreme Court review of a trial court’s denial of Sportsmen’s Alliance (SA) claims against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for the agency’s failure to produce documents from a 2023 Public Records Act request (PRA). CCW’s move is in response to its own experience of similar and repeated failures by the agency, and its commissioners, to provide timely and complete access to public records over the years.
“Public records are not optional — they are the cornerstone of government transparency and accountability,” said Kelsey Ross, President and spokesperson for the Conservation Coalition of Washington. She continued, “We are committed to ensuring that Washington citizens have access to the truth.”
SA originally filed suit in January of this year to compel WDFW to produce records from a 2023 PRA request on multiple hunting and conservation topics. After the lawsuit forced disclosure of some 42,000 documents in May, the SA case was dismissed in August by a trial judge in Thurston County, finding that WDFW complied with the PRA because the agency sent email updates every three months and is allowed to meet a PRA request with installments over time.
The trial court’s dismissal was in spite of SA evidence of corrupt PRA practices at all levels of the agency, including its commissioners, along with the simple fact that SA’s lawsuit resulted in actual production of 42,000 documents in 90 days. Based on this lower court ruling, SA filed a request for direct review by the Washington Supreme Court on September 2, a move that CCW now joins with its own amicus brief in support of the SA request.
“What the trial judge ruled can’t be what the PRA stands for,” said Todd Adkins, senior vice president at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Send a few emails and you’re good to go? No, that can’t be it, the PRA has to stand for the people and their ability to know what’s going on, and we are confident the state Supreme Court will agree.”
SA and CCW briefing in the case specifically cite instances where records requests regarding commissioner communication and policy discussions have been ignored, heavily delayed, or improperly redactedand even potentially deleted. By bringing the issue before the courts, CCW and SA aim to set a precedent that access to information will be defended vigorously for all citizens from every walk of life throughout the state.
“This is about shining light where others would prefer shadows,” added Josh Caple, CCW board member. “We are not only fighting for hunters and conservationists — we are fighting for every Washingtonian who believes in open, honest government.”
About Conservation Coalition of Washington: Conservation Coalition of Washington is a grassroots alliance of citizens, conservationists, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts focused on promoting sportsmen rights and opportunity, and the protection of the North American Model of Conservation. CCW remains dedicated to ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsible governance in Washington State.
About Sportsmen’s Alliance: Founded in 1977, the Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national leader in defending the rights of sportsmen and women by holding government actors accountable through legislative, grassroots, and legal action
