http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org Defending Your Freedom of Speech & Right to Know Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:37:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en BY PETER SCHEER---As California voters begin the process of selecting the next  Governor of the ungovernable Golden State, the leading candidates owe them a demonstration of their commitment to government transparency. All politicians are supportive of open-government "in principle;"  the question is whether they are committed in practice. The best test ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/leading-gubernatorial-candidates-meg-whitman-and-jerry-brown-need-to-show-voters-by-their-own-actions-that-they-are-committed-to-transparency-in-government-promises-wont-cut-it/ The new California Assembly Speaker has banned text messaging on the assembly floor prompting skepticism from First Amendment advocates that the ban is enforceable or efficacious. -db CivSource Commentary March 9, 2010 By Bailey McCann Last week, when John A. Perez became California’s new Assembly Speaker a point in his opening speech caught our eye ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/california-state-assembly-speaker-bans-texting-in-session/ The Federal Communications Commission's plan for national broadband access has great potential to speed communication and enhance public access to government information and services but faces obstacles in funding and net neutrality. -db OMB Watch March 9, 2010 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is gearing up to release its plan for national broadband ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/proposed-national-broadband-access-may-lack-funding/ A Superior Court  judge strengthened the Public Records Act by ruling that the press and the public had the right to access government records to answer questions about why parole officers did not check on registered sex offender Philip Garrido who had kidnapped a 12-year-old girl and held her captive ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/california-decision-in-favor-of-disclosure-in-kidnapping-case-gives-hope-for-publics-right-to-government-records/ A Pennsylvania federal court will not allow a man suing in an employment discrimination case to discover the identities of those making posts on a new website. The man wanted the identities to discredit the testimony of those who fired him. -db Citizen Media Law Project Commentary March 8, 2010 By Sam Bayard Thomas O'Toole ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/anonymous-speech-federal-court-protects-identities-of-posters-on-news-website/ The Supreme Court will not hear the case of a death row inmate who claimed his First Amendment rights were violated by a federal policy that banned interviews with death row inmates. -db The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press March 8, 2010 By Curry Andrews The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/free-speech-supreme-court-reaffirms-ban-on-death-row-interviews/ The Supreme Court will hear the case of a Marine father who sued protesters who picketed his son's funeral with signs reading "God Hates You" land "Thank God for Dead Soldiers." The picketers were from a Baptist church that believes God hates homosexuality and is punishing the U.S. for tolerating ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/first-amendment-cases-supreme-court-to-hear-kansas-case-of-protesters-at-military-funeral/ Starting this month, FAC has retained veteran first amendment and access lawyer Judy Alexander as FAC's Special Access Litigation Counsel. Judy will be representing FAC in access cases across the state as part of FAC's  expanded litigation initiative. Alexander, a former FAC Board member, has 25 years experience in first amendment ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/attorney-judy-alexander-joins-fac-as-special-access-litigation-counsel/ Q: A county supervisor called 911 to report what he described as an assault with several punches thrown at him. The local police department investigated and determined witnesses saw no punches thrown. After some delay, the city attorney has released the police investigative documents. Thus far, they have refused to ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/aa-can-city-attorney-withhold-911-call-transcripts/ The Electronic Frontier Foundation is joining with other free expression advocates in a legal challenge to the federal criminal law that requires anyone producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit expression to maintain extensive records including copies of drivers' licenses, home addresses, etc. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Press Release March 5th, 2010 SAN FRANCISCO ... http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/eff-federal-law-on-adult-photography-poses-threat-to-free-speech/