# The SUNLIGHT Act: Making Government Legal Opinions Public

The SUNLIGHT Act would require the federal government to publish legal opinions written by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), a little-known but powerful office within the Department of Justice that advises the President and other executive branch officials on what the law allows them to do. Right now, these opinions are often kept secret, which means the public has no way of knowing what legal reasoning the government is using to justify its actions. This bill would change that by forcing the government to make these opinions public on a searchable website.

Here's why this matters in practical terms: When the OLC issues an opinion saying the President can do something—whether it's about surveillance, detention, military action, or anything else—that opinion shapes government policy but stays hidden from Congress and the public. Journalists, lawyers, and citizens can't see the legal arguments being used to justify major government decisions. The SUNLIGHT Act would require these opinions to be published within 30 days of being issued, with older opinions released on a timeline ranging from one to four years depending on how far back they go. The government could only keep parts of opinions secret in limited circumstances, like when they contain classified national security information or personal details about individuals.

The bill also requires the government to create a searchable online database where anyone can find and download these opinions for free, without needing special access or paying fees. If the government decides to withhold information, it must explain in writing what it's hiding and why, and those explanations would also be public. The law even allows people to sue in federal court if they believe the government is improperly keeping an opinion secret. Essentially, this bill is about transparency—making sure that the legal reasoning behind government actions can be scrutinized by the public, Congress, and the courts rather than remaining locked away in government files.

SUNLIGHT Act of 2022

Cartwright, Matt

See UNdisclosed Legal Interpretations and Get Honest Transparency Act of 2022 or the SUNLIGHT Act of 2022 This bill generally requires that each final opinion issued by the Office of Legal Counsel be made publicly available within a specified time frame.