White House appeals ruling on visitor logs.

• Position: GOVERNMENT RECORDS - Brief article

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Obama administration is appealing a judge's ruling that Secret Service records of White House visitors are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled in August that the administration now must release all records of all visitors or explain why White House visits should be kept secret under law.

The lawsuit stemmed from attempts by conservative group Judicial Watch to view the Workers Visitors Entry System records before September 15, 2009. The White House had decided to voluntarily release the names of most White House visitors after that date, but not before.

The Obama administration had argued that the records are presidential...