The 2010 Weltner Freedom of Information Banquet honoring Mike Luckovich of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution took place on April 28, 2010.  We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support.

Click here to view a photo gallery from the
2010 Weltner Freedom of Information Banquet.  Click here to see the Journal-Constitution's review of the event.  Click here to see the Journal-Constitution Peach Buzz review of the event.

In the spirit of Charles L. Weltner
The Weltner Freedom of Information Banquet, which occurs each January, honors the Georgian who has done the most for freedom of information. It is named for the former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court who championed F.O.I. and ethics in state government. If you have someone you would like to nominate for the Weltner Award, write or send your e-mail to:
 
Ga. First Amendment Foundation
150 East Ponce de Leon Ave.
Suite 230
Decatur, GA 30030
info@gfaf.org
Telephone 404-525-3646

Justice Weltner's Majority Opinion in Davis
Davis et al v. City of Macon
Supreme Court of Georgia, July 16, 1992

"This is the last appeal in which I will participate as a member of the Supreme Court of Georgia...

"Over the past decade, as I see it, our court has breathed life into some old words that have lain dormant within our constitution for most of their century-old existence. The words are:

"'Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people and are at all times amenable to them.'
(Constitution of Georgia of 1983, Art. I, Sec. II, Par. I.)

"We have established that this is no empty phrase, but an obligation that is enforceable in a court of law. Public men and women, above all others, must be of good faith. Neither facile excuse nor clever dissimulation can serve in the stead of duty -- faithfully performed.

"Because public men and women are amenable 'at all times' to the people, they must conduct the public's business out in the open."

Charles L. Weltner Freedom of Information Award
Previous winners
2002 Eason Jordan, CNN Chief news executive and president of newsgathering
2003 Thurbert Baker, Attorney General of Georgia
2004 Roy Barnes, former governor of Georgia
2005 Norman Fletcher, former chief justice Supreme Court of Georgia
2006 Johnny Isakson, Senator, United States Congress
2007 Marvin H. Shoob, Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
2008 Michael Bowers, former Attorney General of Georgia and Jim Houston, retired from the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
2009 Leah Ward Sears, Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court
2010 Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution