The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals recently upheld a decision dismissing a case brought by Katherin Román against the Department of Justice. The court ruled that the case was academic, meaning there was no longer a live controversy to resolve. This decision is significant for individuals seeking access to public information, as it addresses the limits of transparency laws in Puerto Rico.
Katherin Román filed her appeal on June 30, 2026, under docket number TA2026AP00465. The dispute centered on her request for information regarding legal representation expenses and official travel reports from the Department of Justice. Román claimed that the department had failed to provide the requested information, which she argued was public under the Law of Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Public Information, Law No. 141 of August 1, 2019.
The background of this case dates back to January 7, 2026, when Román submitted a request for public information to the Department of Justice. She sought detailed records of legal expenses and travel reports from January 1, 2019, to October 31, 2025. Román argued that this information was essential for transparency and accountability within the government.
On February 10, 2026, the Department of Justice responded to Román's request, claiming that they had provided the available information. However, they noted that some data for 2024 and the first nine months of 2025 had already been supplied to her in a previous request. The department argued that since they had provided the information, the case should be dismissed as academic.
Román opposed this claim, stating that the documents received were incomplete and did not match the official format of the Central Accounting System (PRIFAS). She insisted that the Department of Justice had not fulfilled its obligation to provide the complete records she requested. On April 6, 2026, the lower court ruled in favor of the Department of Justice, declaring the case academic and dismissing Román's appeal.
The Court of Appeals, led by Judge Pagán Ocasio, reviewed the case and affirmed the lower court's decision. The court stated, "In essence, the appellant requested information about representation expenses and official travel, with the names of Justice Department employees. A careful reading of the tables sent to the appellant shows that this is the information they contain." The court found that the Department of Justice had complied with its obligation to provide the requested information.
The ruling emphasized that a case becomes academic when changes in facts or judicial events render it moot. The court noted, "A case is academic when it involves obtaining a ruling on a non-existent controversy or a judgment that, for some reason, will not have practical effects." Because the Department of Justice had provided the requested information, the court concluded that there was no longer a genuine dispute requiring judicial intervention.
This ruling has implications for future cases involving public access to information in Puerto Rico. It reinforces the idea that if a government agency provides the requested information, a case may be dismissed on the grounds of academicity. This could potentially limit the ability of individuals to challenge government transparency practices if they are not satisfied with the information provided.
Furthermore, the court's decision highlights the balance between the public's right to access information and the government's obligation to protect certain confidential information. The ruling also underscores the importance of following proper procedures when requesting public information, as failure to do so may result in dismissal.
Looking ahead, it is unclear whether Román will seek to appeal this decision further. There are no related cases currently pending that would directly impact this ruling. However, the outcome of this case may influence future requests for public information and the legal standards applied in similar disputes.
In summary, the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals has confirmed the dismissal of Katherin Román's appeal against the Department of Justice, emphasizing the importance of the academicity doctrine in determining the justiciability of cases involving public information access.