On Monday, September 8, 2025, Circuit Court Judge W. Michel Pierson issued his written decision, upholding the Public Information Act Complaint Board’s (PIACB) January 10, 2025, decision ordering the disclosure of handwritten notes of Robert McCord, the Harford County Director of Administration, taken during the County Council Budget Work Session on April 30, 2024. Although the County recently released Mr. McCord’s notes and doodles from this year’s Budget Session, Mr. Cassilly sought to prevent the release of last year’s notes. In its January ruling related to the outstanding request, the PIACB remarked the notes were not exempt from disclosure and directed that Harford County produce the notes with certain redactions.

Disagreeing with the PIACB’s decision, the Cassilly Administration sought judicial review, claiming that for reasons of executive privilege, among others, they should not have to provide meeting notes in response to a Public Information Act request from Sheriff Gahler. The Honorable Judge Pierson disagreed, stating in his written decision that there is no case law that supports the County’s argument, upholding the PIACB’s decision that the documents must be released.

Sheriff Gahler remarked, “The ruling by Circuit Court Judge W. Michel Pierson to uphold the Public Information Act Compliance Board’s (PIACB) directive requiring the release of handwritten notes from a County Council Budget Work Session is not just a win for my office, it’s a win for every taxpayer in Harford County. This is the second time Harford County has appealed a PIACB decision to the Circuit Court and lost. Each time, Mr. Cassilly has chosen to waste your tax dollars fighting against the lawful disclosure of public records. These frivolous and repeated challenges are not only an egregious waste of funds, but also the time and resources of our courts, which should be focused on matters of justice, not shielding government documents from public view. I thank the PIACB and Judge Pierson for their clear and decisive affirmation of the law, and I urge the County to stop obstructing lawful requests and start embracing the transparency our citizens deserve.”

In spite of the Court’s findings and after stonewalling this request for the last 16 months, the Cassilly Administration has yet to act in accordance with the law and provide the responsive documents. This is an act that is as simple as pressing the “send” button on an email, but it is still being delayed by Mr. Cassilly and his Administration.