Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has selected Brittney Long to serve as the state's new Public Access Counselor, an office crucial for guiding residents and officials on public records and open meeting laws. The appointment, announced Friday, comes after months of complaints regarding the responsiveness of the previous counselor, Jennifer Ruby, who resigned from the position. Long's first day in the role is Monday.
Long joins the Public Access Counselor's office from her previous position as deputy general counsel for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Governor Braun expressed confidence in the new appointee, stating in the announcement that Long "has the legal credentials and passion for public service" and will "bring added transparency and accountability to our state."
Prior to her work with the Department of Natural Resources, Long served as a magistrate judge for the Bartholomew County Circuit Court from 2022 until March. She also spent nearly 11 years as a law clerk and attorney at the Indianapolis law firm Voyles Lukemeyer Baldwin Webb & Helmond. Her diverse legal background precedes her new role overseeing the office that responds to inquiries, issues non-binding advisory opinions, and educates Hoosiers on their rights and responsibilities concerning public access.
Long replaces Jennifer Ruby, whose last day worked was Thursday, according to State Personnel Department spokesman Kirollos Barsoum. Governor Braun’s announcement of Long’s appointment did not include any statements about Ruby’s departure. Ruby, whom Braun appointed in March 2025, faced numerous complaints during her tenure concerning slow or absent responses to public access requests. In July, several news media organizations reportedly threatened a lawsuit over these delays, highlighting a significant challenge for public access in the state.
In response to the mounting complaints, Governor Braun's office took action in August, diverting two full-time staffers from his own office to Ruby’s: one legal staff member and one administrative staff member. Governor’s office spokesman Griffin Reid said at the time that these staffers would assist "until the backlog is resolved." Reid also stated that the Public Access Counselor's office would begin posting weekly metrics on its website to detail the number of outstanding and resolved requests, aiming for greater transparency.
The Office of the Public Access Counselor operates with three employees and was allotted an annual budget of $339,000 in the last two-year budget. Salaries account for $317,000 of this amount. Governor’s office Deputy General Counsel Trent Bennett, who earns nearly a third of the allocated salary budget, began handling public access work in August following the staff diversion. The office's primary mission is to provide essential guidance on state public records and open meeting laws, serving as a critical resource for government accountability.
