mcburney et al young deputy commissioner director virginia division child support enforcement et argued february decided april virginia freedom information act foia grants virginia citizens access public records grants right petitioners mcburney hurlbert citizens virginia filed records requests act petitioner request denied filed suit seeking declaratory injunctive relief violations privileges immunities clause hurlbert case dormant commerce clause district granted virginia motion summary judgment fourth circuit affirmed held virginia foia violate privileges immunities clause protects privileges immunities fundamental see baldwin fish game pp hurlbert alleges virginia foia abridges fundamental right earn living chosen profession obtaining property records behalf clients privileges immunities clause protects right citizens ply trade practice occupation pursue common calling hicklin orbeck struck laws violating privilege enacted protectionist purpose burdening citizens see toomer witsell virginia foia distinction nonprotectionist aim virginia foia exists provide mechanism virginia citizens obtain accounting public officials noncitizens comparable need moreover distinction citizens noncitizens recognizes citizens alone foot bill fixed costs underlying recordkeeping commonwealth effect act preventing citizens making profit trading information contained state records incidental pp hurlbert also alleges virginia foia abridges right transfer property commonwealth right take hold dispose property long seen one privileges citizenship see paul virginia wall however virginia law prevent noncitizens obtaining documents necessary transfer property records like title mortgage documents maintained clerk circuit available inspection person real estate tax assessment records considered nonconfidential often posted online practice followed county hurlbert sought records requiring noncitizen obtain records clerk office internet instead burdensome foia process said impose significant burden ability transfer property virginia pp mcburney alleges virginia foia impermissibly burdens access public proceedings privileges immunities clause secures citizens one state right resort courts another equally citizens latter state missouri pacific clarendon boat oar requirement satisfied nonresident given access upon terms reasonable adequate enforcing rights may even though may extent accorded resident citizens canadian northern eggen virginia foia clearly deprive noncitizens reasonable adequate access commonwealth courts virginia rules provide noncitizens access nonpriviledged documents needed litigation virginia law gives citizens noncitizens alike access judicial records records pertaining directly example mcburney utilized virginia government data collection dissemination practices act receive much information sought foia request pp petitioners sweeping claim virginia foia violates privileges immunities clause denies right access public information equal terms commonwealth citizens rejected right access public information fundamental privilege immunity citizenship repeatedly stated constitution guarantee existence foia laws see los angeles police dept reporting publishing moreover right recognized common law early republic sweeping right basic maintenance union baldwin supra pp virginia foia violate dormant commerce clause common thread among dormant commerce clause cases state interfered natural functioning interstate market either prohibition thorough burdensome regulation hughes alexandria scrap virginia foia contrast neither prohibits access interstate market imposes burdensome regulation market accordingly properly viewed dormant commerce clause case even shoehorned dormant commerce clause framework however hurlbert claim fail insofar market public documents virginia market product commonwealth created commonwealth sole manufacturer state violate dormant commerce clause created market state program limits benefits generated state program fund state treasury state created serve reeves stake pp affirmed alito delivered opinion unanimous thomas filed concurring opinion opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press mark mcburney et petitioners thaniel young deputy commissioner director virginia division child support enforcement et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit april justice alito delivered opinion case must decide whether virginia freedom information act code ann et violates either privileges immunities clause article iv constitution dormant commerce clause virginia freedom information act foia provides public records shall open inspection copying citizens commonwealth grants right lexis petitioners citizens unsuccessfully sought information act brought constitutional challenge hold however petitioners constitutional rights violated means state foia virginia made available petitioners information sought commonwealth refusal furnish additional information abridge constitutionally protected privilege immunity virginia violate dormant commerce clause state freedom information act regulate commerce meaningful sense instead provides service related state citizenship reasons affirm decision appeals rejecting petitioners constitutional claims petitioners mark mcburney roger hurlbert citizens rhode island california respectively mcburney hurlbert requested documents virginia foia requests denied citizenship mcburney former resident virginia whose virginia citizen defaulted child support obligations mcburney asked commonwealth division child support enforcement file petition child support behalf agency complied delay mcburney attributes delay agency error says cost nine months child support ascertain reason agency delay mcburney filed virginia foia request seeking emails notes files memos reports letters policies opinions pertaining family along documents regarding application child support documents pertaining handling child support claims like app agency denied mcburney request ground virginia citizen mcburney later requested documents virginia government data collection dissemination practices act code ann et request received information sought pertained specifically case however receive general policy information agency handled claims like hurlbert sole proprietor sage information services business requests real estate tax records clients behalf state local governments across hurlbert hired company obtain real estate tax records properties henrico county virginia filed virginia foia request documents henrico county real estate assessor office request denied virginia citizen petitioners filed suit seeking declaratory injunctive relief violations privileges immunities clause hurlbert case dormant commerce clause district granted virginia motion summary judgment mcburney cuccinelli supp ed appeals affirmed like virginia several enacted freedom information laws available citizens see code cum supp ark code ann supp del code tit supp mo rev stat rev stat ann west stat ann west code ann lee minner third circuit held feature delaware foia violated privileges immunities clause granted certiorari resolve conflict ii privileges immunities clause citizens state entitled privileges immunities citizens several art iv cl said object privileges immunities clause constitute citizens one people ing citizens state upon footing citizens far advantages resulting citizenship concerned lunding new york tax appeals tribunal quoting paul virginia wall mean cautioned state citizenship residency may never used state distinguish among persons baldwin fish game must state always apply laws services equally anyone resident nonresident may request ibid rather long held privileges immunities clause protects privileges immunities fundamental see petitioners allege virginia foia provision violates four different fundamental privileges immunities opportunity pursue common calling ability transfer property access virginia courts access public information first three items list however abridged virginia foia fourth framed broadly protected privileges immunities clause hurlbert argues virginia foia provision abridges ability earn living chosen profession namely obtaining property records state local governments behalf clients correct privileges immunities clause protects right citizens ply trade practice occupation pursue common calling hicklin orbeck piper ne privileges clause guarantees citizens state business state terms substantial equality citizens virginia foia abridge hulbert ability engage common calling sense prohibited privileges immunities clause rather struck laws violating privilege pursuing common calling laws enacted protectionist purpose burdening citizens see hicklin supra striking violation noncitizens privileges immunities alaska hire statute containing resident hiring preference employment related development state oil gas resources toomer witsell striking south carolina statute imposing license fee shrimping boats fee shrimping boats petitioners alleged purpose effect statute conserve shrimp exclude thereby create commercial monopoly south carolina residents record cas doubt state counterassertion statute obvious purpose conserve shrimp supply building constr trades council camden cty mayor council camden new jersey municipal ordinance requiring least employees contractors subcontractors working city construction projects city residents facially burdened citizens ability pursue common calling case clear aim statute issue advantage workers commercial interests expense counterparts virginia foia differs sharply statutes terms virginia foia enacted ensur people commonwealth ready access public records custody public body officers employees free entry meetings public bodies wherein business people conducted code ann lexis hurlbert allege offered proof challenged provision virginia foia enacted order provide competitive economic advantage virginia citizens cf hillside dairy lyons piercing professedly nondiscriminatory statute find economic protectionism rather seems clear distinction statute makes citizens noncitizens distinctly nonprotectionist aim state foia essentially represents mechanism ultimately hold sovereign power citizens commonwealth may obtain accounting public officials delegate exercise power see va art code ann addition provision limiting use state foia virginia citizens recognizes virginia taxpayers foot bill fixed costs underlying recordkeeping commonwealth tr oral arg challenged provision state foia violate privileges immunities clause simply incidental effect preventing citizens making profit trading information contained state records clause forbids state intentionally giving citizens competitive advantage business employment clause require state tailor every action avoid incidental effect tradesmen hurlbert next alleges challenged provision virginia foia abridges right transfer property commonwealth like right pursue common calling right take hold dispose property either real personal long seen one privileges citizenship see corfield coryell cas cced see also paul supra listing acquisition enjoyment property among privileges citizenship thus state prevented citizens accessing records like title documents mortgage records necessary transfer property state might well run afoul privileges immunities clause cf state grimes caveat emptor rule us absence special agreement essential protection persons intending purchase take incumbrances allowed right inspection jackson ex dem center campbell johns plain intention state property records system give notice medium county records persons purchase virginia however prevent citizens obtaining documents virginia law records papers every circuit maintained clerk circuit shall open inspection person clerk shall requested furnish copies thereof code ann lexis records papers include records property transfers like title documents lexis notices federal tax liens federal liens property notices state tax liens property lexis state taxes generally estate tax liens state taxes generally liens filed agencies tax commission notice mortgages encumbrances lexis supp similar flaw undermines hurlbert claim virginia violates privileges immunities clause preventing citizens accessing real estate tax assessment records true records available virginia citizens state foia required statute made available noncitizens see associated tax service fitzpatrick fact virginia subdivisions generally make even less essential records readily available records considered nonconfidential virginia law accordingly may posted online lexis henrico county hurlbert sought real estate tax assessments follows almost every county commonwealth requiring noncitizens conduct minutes internet research lieu using relatively cumbersome state foia process said impose significant burden noncitizens ability transfer property virginia mcburney alleges virginia foia provision impermissibly burdens access public proceedings brief petitioners mcburney correct privileges immunities clause secures citizens one state right resort courts another equally citizens latter state missouri pacific clarendon boat oar petitioners suggest virginia foia slams courthouse door noncitizens rather claim law creates information asymmetry adversaries based solely state citizenship brief petitioners privileges immunities clause require erase distinction citizens might conceivably give state citizens detectable litigation advantage rather made clear constitutional requirement satisfied given access courts state upon terms reasonable adequate enforcing rights may even though may technically precisely extent accorded resident citizens canadian northern eggen challenged provision virginia foia clearly deprive noncitizens reasonable adequate access commonwealth courts virginia rules civil procedure provide discovery sup rule subpoenas duces tecum rule reason think mechanisms insufficient provide noncitizens relevant nonprivileged documents needed litigation moreover virginia law gives citizens noncitizens alike access judicial records code ann see also shenandoah publishing house fanning virginia possession information person whether citizen commonwealth another state person right government data collection dissemination practices act inspect information lexis mcburney case illustrative foia request denied mcburney told request materials sought pursuant government data collection dissemination practices act upon placing request act ultimately received much sought accordingly virginia foia provision impermissibly burden noncitizens ability access commonwealth courts finally reject petitioners sweeping claim challenged provision virginia foia violates privileges immunities clause denies right access public information equal terms citizens commonwealth agree privileges immunities clause covers broad right repeatedly made clear constitutional right obtain information provided foia laws see houchins kqed plurality opinion constitution freedom information see also los angeles police dept reporting publishing government decide give information sorrell ims health breyer dissenting slip never found first amendment prohibits government restricting use information gathered pursuant regulatory mandate certainly said broad right times enjoyed citizens several compose union time becoming free independent sovereign corfield right recognized common law see cross people right know courts declared primary rule general common law right persons citizens taxpayers electors merely persons inspect public records documents english cases provided persons personal interest records permitted access see king shelley eng buller ne man right look another title deeds records interest deeds rolls king justices staffordshire ad eng utmost said ground interest applicants rational curiosity gratify inspection may thereby ascertain facts useful advancing ulterior measures contemplation regulating county expenditure merely interest obtaining information general subject furnish equally good reason permitting inspection records county direct tangible interest necessary bring within rule acts granting inspection public documents american cases less uniform certainly support proposition right access public information widely recognized early republic see cormack wolcott denying mandamus plaintiff seeking compile abstracts title records common law parties vested rights examination record title public records save interest land subject record brewer watson individual demanding access inspection public writings must interest matters relate direct tangible interest inspection must sought specific legitimate purpose gratification mere curiosity motives merely speculative entitle demand examination writings nadel records agency must made available state freedom information act common law person requesting inspection public record required show interest therein enable maintain defend action document record sought furnish evidence necessary information sweeping right basic maintenance union baldwin foia laws relatively recent vintage federal foia enacted stat virginia counterpart adopted two years later acts ch contention nation unity foundered absence suffering foia provisions several enacted iii addition privileges immunities clause claim hurlbert contends virginia foia provision violates dormant commerce clause commerce clause empowers congress regulate commerce among several art cl commerce clause expressly impose constraints several several members expressed view see general motors tracy scalia concurring commerce clause unjustified judicial intervention expanded beyond existing domain haulers assn solid waste management authority thomas concurring judgment negative commerce clause basis constitution proved unworkable practice nonetheless long inferred commerce clause imposes certain implicit limitations state power see cooley board wardens port philadelphia ex rel soc relief distressed pilots cf bons ogden wheat marshall dictum dormant commerce clause jurisprudence significantly limits ability localities regulate otherwise burden flow interstate commerce maine taylor driven concern economic protectionism regulatory measures designed benefit economic interests burdening competitors new energy ind limbach see also philadelphia new jersey crucial inquiry must directed determining whether challenged statute basically protectionist measure whether fairly viewed law directed legitimate local concerns effects upon interstate commerce incidental virginia foia law neither regulates burdens interstate commerce rather merely provides service local citizens otherwise available common thread among cases found dormant commerce clause violation state interfered natural functioning interstate market either prohibition burdensome regulation hughes alexandria scrap contrast virginia neither prohibits access interstate market imposes burdensome regulation market rather merely creates provides citizens copies otherwise exist state records discussed express purpose virginia foia law ensur people commonwealth ready access public records custody public body officers employees free entry meetings public bodies wherein business people conducted code ann case thus properly brought privileges immunities clause quite literally poses question whether virginia deny citizens benefit conferred citizens cf missouri pacific analyzing whether privilege access state courts must made available citizens equally citizens relevant state pose question constitutionality state law interferes interstate market prohibition burdensome regulations case governed dormant commerce clause even shoehorned dormant commerce clause framework however hurlbert claim fail insofar market public documents virginia market product commonwealth created commonwealth sole manufacturer held state violate dormant commerce clause created market state program limits benefits generated state program fund state treasury state created serve reeves stake policies perhaps loose sense reflect essential patently unobjectionable purpose state government serve citizens state ibid cf department revenue davis government function susceptible standard dormant commerce clause scrutiny owing likely motivation legitimate objectives distinct simple economic protectionism clause abhors reasons virginia foia provision violate dormant commerce clause virginia foia provision neither abridges petitioners fundamental privileges immunities impermissibly regulates commerce petitioners constitutional claims fail judgment affirmed ordered thomas concurring mark mcburney et petitioners nathaniel young deputy commissioner director virginia division child support enforcement et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit april justice thomas concurring join opinion though applied dormant commerce clause precedents continue adhere view negative commerce clause basis text constitution makes little sense proved virtually unworkable application consequently serve basis striking state statute hillside dairy lyons opinion concurring part dissenting part citation internal quotation marks omitted footnotes oral argument solicitor general virginia contended matter virginia law hurlbert entitled tax assessment data clerk office tr oral arg neither oral argument briefs virginia cite virginia statute providing real estate tax assessment records filed clerk office virginia code ann lexis directs reassessment records filed clerk may statute counsel referred without official construction statute virginia light fact petitioners afforded opportunity rebut importance rely upon see http visited april available clerk case file