TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline)- Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has appointed a new Sunshine Law attorney to ensure that the state's open-government laws are obeyed.

McCollum named Alexis Lambert to the post. She will succeed General Counsel Simone Marstiller.

"I am proud to have Alexis serve the people of Florida in this open government role," McCollum said in a statement.

"Her dedication, attention to detail and commitment to public service will ensure that this vital position is filled by a person of integrity who has my trust and respect," the AG added.

When Gov. Charlie Crist was attorney general, Pat Gleason held the senior post.

Before taking the job, the newspaper reported that Lambert met with Gleason as well as with executives with the Florida First Amendment Foundation.

"Florida citizens enjoy a historic right of access to the records and meetings of their government and it's critically important that the citizens have a voice and an advocate when it comes to open government," said Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation.

Lambert began working as an assistant attorney General in February 2007.

She will also continue to serve as the legal adviser to the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, the attorney general's office said.

From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo by e-mail at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.