In a landmark court decision on January 18, 2002, a federal district judge ruled in favor of the 16 minority members of the Government Reform Committee who filed suit under the "seven member rule" for disclosure of adjusted data from the 2000 census. The "seven member rule" (5 U.S.C. § 2954) is a federal statute enacted in 1928 that dictates that an agency must release information if it is requested by at least seven members of the House Government Reform Committee (or five of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee members). This marks the first time a lawsuit has employed the "seven member rule."

The ruling could have great implications, especially in light of the fact that The General Accounting Office (GAO) is preparing to sue Vice President Dick Cheney for information about the meetings of his energy task force (see related article, this issue). Rep. Henry Waxman (CA), ranking democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, hailed the seven member rule decision as "an important tool for the public's right to know," and provides more information about the case on this website.