Langley judge rules in public records lawsuit

An Island County Superior Court judge has largely sided with the city of Langley in a lawsuit brought by public records requester Eric Hood. The ruling by Judge Carolyn Cliff found that the city’s search for records regarding a 2022 public records ordinance was adequate, despite the omission of an attorney invoice and an improperly redacted memorandum.

The litigation, which stems from a 2024 request for documents concerning Ordinance 1099, has resulted in significant legal costs for the city. Mayor Kennedy Horstman reported that Langley has spent over $207,000 in attorney fees defending lawsuits filed by Hood in 2023 and 2025. The mayor cited these expenses as a factor in the city’s request for voters to approve a property tax increase via a levy lid lift on November 3.