Family Life

02.20.13 | Sarah Harnisch

A ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says the state constitution doesn't give people a right to privacy when it comes to their home addresses, clarifying what has been a major point of dispute in the open records law. The high court on Tuesday upheld a lower-court decision in the case of Mel Marin, a prospective congressional candidate who wouldn't provide his residence information on campaign documents. The justices are giving their approval to a January 2012 Commonwealth Court opinion that stated "there is no constitutional right to privacy in one's home address under the Pennsylvania Constitution." Terry Mutchler, director of the state Office of Open Records, says the decision has "profound implications" for other cases, as disputes over home addresses have arisen repeatedly under the Right-to-Know Law.