Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 12 - Finance and Administration
Part 2 - Public Records Request Procedures
Chapter 1 - Rules for Accessing Public Documents
Rule 12-2-1.9 - Review of denials of public records

(a) Petition for internal administrative review of denial of access. Any person who objects to the initial denial or partial denial of a records request may petition in writing (including e-mail) to the Director of Communications for a review of that decision. The petition must include a copy of or reasonably identify the written statement by the Director of Communications or designee denying the request.

(b) Consideration of petition for review. The Director of Communications must promptly provide the petition and any other relevant information to the Executive Director of DFA or his or her designee. For immediate consideration of the petition and either affirmation or reversal of the denial within two business days following the DFA's receipt of the petition, or within such other time as the DFA and the requester mutually agree to.

(c) Opinion by the Ethics Commission. Pursuant to Section 25-61-13, if the DFA denies a requestor access to public records, the requestor may ask the Ethics Commission to review the matter. The Ethics Commission has adopted rules on such requests. They may be found at www.ethics.state.ms.us.

(d) Judicial review. Any person whose request for public records was denied may institute a suit in the Chancery Court of Hinds County, seeking to reverse the denial, as set forth in Section 25-61-13.