BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP’S EFFORT TO PROTECT RESIDENTS’ EMAILS TO BE HEARD BY THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT

Bridgewater, NJ – Following the Township’s recent victory in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, Rise Against Hate’s has made the decision to petition the case to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted the petition and a court date is now pending.

In the original case, Rise Against Hate used Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests to seek access to the email addresses of Bridgewater residents who had voluntarily subscribed to the Township’s newsletter services. The Township, recognizing the importance of residents’ privacy, denied the requests, citing valid concerns and emphasizing the reasonable expectation of privacy for the personal information shared with the Township. Rise Against Hate pursued legal action against the Township, leading to an initial unfavorable ruling.

Bridgewater Township made the decision to continue the fight for residents’ privacy rights. Bridgewater Township joined forces with two other New Jersey municipalities facing similar challenges, appealing the adverse rulings. As a result, the disclosure of residents’ email addresses was stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. In March, the Appellate Court unanimously ruled in favor of Bridgewater and its residents’ privacy. The court concluded that the Township was not obligated to disclose any resident email addresses to external organizations.

“We are confident that the New Jersey Supreme Court will recognize the importance of safeguarding our residents’ privacy and uphold the unanimous decision of the Appellate Court,” stated Mayor Matthew Moench. “Bridgewater Township remains committed to our residents and will steadfastly defend their rights to privacy. The Open Public Records Act is a critical tool for citizens seeking information and transparency from their government. It is not a means for ill-intended organizations, like this one, to steal our resident’s private information. We will not give up on this fight.”

Council Vice President Timothy Ring emphasized the Township’s commitment to transparency, privacy, and accountability, stating, “Our residents trusted us with their email addresses for the sole purpose of receiving Bridgewater news, not unsolicited emails from unknown organizations. It is our responsibility to protect their information and deliver only the content they have requested. My Council colleagues and I are in lock step on this issue.”