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First Amendment Kiss or Kiss Off

In keeping with the new normal of polarized politics, FAC has launched a new feature that views the world of First Amendment issues as consisting of good guys and bad guys.

The good guys, on whom we bestow a “First Amendment Kiss,” are people and institutions who, by their acts, words, or example, strengthen free speech safeguards, public access to government information and decision-making, and the accountability of elected officials.

The bad guys, whom we recognize with a “First Amendment Kiss-Off” award, are, well, the people and institutions who resist what the good guys are trying to do. To paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s comment about pornography, we know the bad guys when we see them.

FAC supporters are, by definition, good guys. As such, you are invited and encouraged to nominate recipients of the First Amendment Kiss and Kiss-Off honors. New honorees are posted to FAC’s website. Please “follow us” on Twitter for those postings and for a daily stream of news items, original commentaries, our lawyers’ answers to questions posed by folks like you, as well as news about FAC’s litigation and other initiatives. –Peter Scheer

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• Asked & Answered: Your questions answered by FAC lawyers

  • A&A: School Site Council tactics intimidate parents, public February 3, 2012
    Q: I am interested in a possible cause of action arising from events at a meeting of the high school Site Council, at which public comment was cut off by the chair.  The individual was repeatedly ruled “out of order.” The person was then ordered out of the meeting and, when he failed to comply, […]
  • A&A: What is the Brown Act statute of limitations? February 3, 2012
    Q:  I was fired a year ago, but I am only now reading that the board violated the Brown Act by not disclosing that my position would be discussed in closed session — 54957. (2) is the violation. I see from your A&A section that there is only only a 90-day window of opportunity to […]
  • A&A: Does the Brown Act allow closed sessions to appoint legal firm? January 31, 2012
    Q: Our local water district board is appointing new general counsel. They have agendized this in a special meeting, allowing each prospect to give a presentation on their firm in open session. After each presentation, the board went into closed session pursuant to GC 54957(b)(1), ”Public Employee Appointment: General Counsel.” I have never seen this […]
  • A&A: Are Community College Faculty Senate meetings covered by the Brown Act? January 30, 2012
    Q: I believe Community College Faculty Senates are subject to the Brown Act?  If so, must these bodies disclose how each member voted on an item? I teach at a community college.  My program was asked to make some amendments to an item, otherwise an individual told us she would challenge the matter. We made […]

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