The conviction of Jenna Garland — press secretary to former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed — "was a watershed moment as it relates to the enforcement of the Sunshine Law in Georgia.

"This case did not even involve an out-and-out records denial. It was all about stalling, or delaying, an open records request.

"Records custodians must be helpful when the public asks for public records. That's their job.

"Every public information officer, communications director, press secretary, records custodian, spokesperson and, of course, all elected and appointed officials should take this case very seriously and realize they are working for the public, and all the records they hold and meetings they conduct are public records and public meetings."