Drew Ribar is suing Washoe County—and now, he's suing for the right to post videos of legal depositions.
Ribar wants to post videos of court depositions from his lawsuit against the county, bringing transparency to a process often kept in the shadows. The depositions involve public employees. Taxpayer-funded. Government representatives. Yet the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office is fighting to keep the video from being posted, citing vague “threats of harm” if the footage goes public.
But here’s the problem: they haven’t been required to prove any actual harm. No specifics. Just fear.
Should there be a level of privacy in depositions? Maybe—for private citizens. But these aren’t private citizens. They’re public servants, and this is a matter of public interest. Recording and sharing videos not only promotes government accountability, it also makes legal proceedings more accessible—especially for people with disabilities who may struggle with dense transcripts or in-person hearings.
So what exactly is the DA’s office trying to protect? County employees, or their image?
Washoe County works for the people. The people have a right to see what’s said in their name.