Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board Publishes Determinations on Record Postponements

On September 21, 2026, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board (CRCCRRB) announced its formal determinations on the disclosure of records pertaining to several civil rights cold case incidents. This announcement, published in the Federal Register, directly addresses 22 additional requests from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to postpone the release of specific documents. These decisions are a key part of the board's mandate under the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018.

Mandate of the CRCCRRB

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board was established by the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018. This legislation empowers the board to review government records related to unsolved civil rights-era crimes and make determinations on their public disclosure or postponement. A core requirement of the Act is that the Review Board must publish its disclosure or postponement decisions in the Federal Register within 14 days of making them. This ensures public transparency and accountability in the process of historical record access.

Agency Postponement Requests

The DOJ and FBI had previously submitted proposed postponements for records tied to five specific civil rights cold case incidents: 2023-002-001, 2023-002-008, 2023-002-009, 2024-003-003, and 2024-003-041. Following these initial requests, the agencies proposed an additional 22 postponements. These requests for delay typically stem from concerns such as protecting national security, safeguarding personal privacy, or avoiding interference with ongoing investigations. The Review Board's role is to independently assess the validity of such claims against the public interest in disclosure.

Board's Determinations

In September 2026, the Review Board meticulously reviewed these 22 additional proposed postponements. The published notice details each decision, revealing a clear pattern. Out of the 22 postponement requests, the board approved only three. These approvals pertained to specific records related to incidents 2023-002-001 and 2023-002-009.

Notably, the vast majority of the requests 19 out of 22 were rejected. For incident 2023-002-008, all three proposed DOJ postponements were rejected. For incident 2024-003-003, all three proposed FBI postponements were rejected. And for incident 2024-003-041, all 11 proposed DOJ postponements were rejected. This indicates a strong preference by the board toward public disclosure over continued secrecy for these particular records. The board's decisions are as follows:

• Incident 2023-002-001: One postponement (2024-DOJ-02-1068a) approved.
• Incident 2023-002-008: Three postponements (2024-DOJ-02-0258a, 2024-DOJ-02-0289a, 2024-DOJ-02-0300a) rejected.
• Incident 2023-002-009: Two postponements (2024-DOJ-02-0787a, 2024-DOJ-02-0791a) approved.
• Incident 2024-003-003: Three postponements (2024-FBI-03-0258a, 2024-FBI-03-0356a, 2024-FBI-03-0381a) rejected.
• Incident 2024-003-041: Eleven postponements (2024-DOJ-03-0627a through 2024-DOJ-03-0634a, 2024-DOJ-03-0716a, 2024-DOJ-03-0717a, 2024-DOJ-03-0720a, 2024-DOJ-03-0721a, 2024-DOJ-03-0723a) rejected.

Implications of Disclosure

The Review Board's decision to reject a significant majority of the requested postponements underscores its commitment to the spirit of the 2018 Act. These rejections suggest that in most cases, the board found the arguments for delaying public access to be insufficient when weighed against the public's right to historical information. This action directly contributes to the ongoing effort to shed light on the truth behind unresolved civil rights cold cases, potentially aiding researchers, historians, and the public in understanding critical periods of American history and ensuring accountability for past injustices. The relatively few approvals indicate that the board does acknowledge specific, valid grounds for temporary delay in certain circumstances.