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Lardner v. Department of Justice (2008)

Public Citizen represents George Lardner, who is writing a book about the presidential pardon power. The suit involves the denial of a Freedom of Information Act request to the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice, in which Mr. Lardner requested the names of applicants for pardon or commutation whose applicants were denied By President Bush. DOJ argued that the information is protected from disclosure under FOIA exemptions 6 and 7(C), which apply when the disclosure would constitute an invasion of personal privacy. In a decision issued in July 2009, the district court held that the names are not exempt under FOIA and ordered DOJ to disclose them. DOJ then appealed. Ruling in favor of Mr. Lardner, the D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision.