public record

Public records are those records which a governmental unit is required by law to keep or which it is necessary to keep in discharge of duties imposed by law; e.g. records of land transactions kept at county court house; records of court cases kept by clerk of court. Curran v. Board of Park Com'rs, Lake County Metropolitan Park Dist, Com.Pl., 22 Ohio Misc. 197, 259 N.E.2d 757, 759, 51 O.O.2d 321.

Elements essential to constitute a public record are that it be a written memorial, that it be made by a public officer, and that the officer be authorized by law to make it. Nero v. Hyland, 76 N.J. 213, 386 A.2d 846, 851.

A record is a "public record" within purview of statute providing that books and records required by law to be kept by county clerk may be received in evidence in any court if it is a record which a public officer is required to keep and if it is filed in such a manner that it is subject to public inspection. In re LaSarge's Estate, OkL, 526 P.2d 930, 933.

For purposes of right-to-know law, includes decisions which establish, alter, or deny rights, privileges, immunities, duties, or obligations. Lamolinara v. Barger, 30 Pa. Cmwlth. 307, 373 A.2d 788, 790.

See also record

+ public record

A record, memorial of some act or transaction, written evidence of something done, or document, considered as either concerning or interesting the public, affording notice or information to the public, or open to public inspection. Any "writing" prepared, owned, used or retained by any agency in pursuance of law or in connection with the transaction of public business; and, "writings" means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics