Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

Summary

The Justices advised that the initiative petition proposes a law, rather than an internal legislative rule, because its principal purpose is to grant the public access to records held by the General Court and the Governor's office. They also advised that the petition does not improperly relate to the powers of courts because any effect on court business would be incidental to its public-records purpose. The Justices declined to answer the constitutional questions concerning legislative rulemaking authority, separation of powers, and legislative privilege or immunity because those issues were not suitable for resolution in the abstract.