Iowa Supreme Court reverses ruling that a job interview violated open meetings law

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Iowa Supreme Court quoted William Shakespeare in finding that the Cedar Rapids City Council did not violate state open meetings law.

The ruling lets government councils and boards continue to interview and hire executives and other public employees out of the public view for the sake of encouraging applicants who might be wary of public scrutiny.

The case stems from the 2021 hiring of Alissa Van Sloten for city clerk. Van Sloten, who was already working for the city, requested her interview before the city council be held in a closed session under an exemption meant to prevent “needless and irreparable injury” to her reputation.

Former federal prosecutor Robert Teig argued there was no basis that a job interview would pose a needless or irreparable harm