Appeal filed in case of Tulare County supervisors’ ‘unofficial’ lunch meetings

The First Amendment Coalition and a number of newspapers across the state are appealing a case involving an alleged Brown Act violation by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors who held 30 lunch meetings without public participation. A superior court judge dismissed the suit as lacking factual basis to proceed to trial. The appeal is [...]

Editorial argues for revealing California Legislators’ calendars

In an editorial the San Jose Mercury News argued that current law requires state legislators to open their appointment calendars to public scrutiny. The editorial stated that with 40 percent of legislation introduced in the last two-year session written by special interests, it is essential for the public to know how this happens and the [...]

Challenge mounted against secrecy for California legislators’ calendars

California legislators have rejected a request from media and open government groups to open their appointment calendars to the public. In a letter denying the request, the legislators said they could not provide information on appointments out of “concerns regarding privacy, security and legislative privilege.” The refusal may be challenged in court. The San Jose [...]

FAC files suit for access to report on hazardous toxins found in Calabasas

The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) has filed suit against the city of Calabasas to compel disclosure of an inspection report on conditions in an unoccupied residential property potentially posing health risks to nearby residents. The city, despite repeated requests, has refused to release a copy of the report to a neighbor, Gail Reznik, and other [...]

California: Court transparency bill introduced in state senate

The California Newspaper Publisher Asssociation and a number of other press groups are backing a bill introduced by Senator Leland Yee requiring timely court transparency. Yee is introducing the bill to address delays the media endures in receiving court documents. The media is concerned that weeks may go by before court administrators release documents. -db [...]

Electronic Frontier Foundation joins media groups in filing amicus brief to uphold access to GIS maps

EFF is asking a California Court of Appeal to uphold the public’s right to electronic files created by local governments in the case Sierra Club v. Superior Court. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Commentary By Mark Rumold Last week, EFF joined a coalition of public interest and media groups in filing an amicus brief (pdf) urging [...]

Federal appeals court says cheerleader must cheer for player accused of sexually assaulting her

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a cheerleader’s refusal to root for an athlete accused of sexual assaulting her is not protected speech, and the school district had “no duty to promote” the cheerleader’s message. -db Salon.com Commentary September 24, 2010 By Tracy Clark-Flory Cheerleading is often maligned as an illegitimate, unchallenging sport [...]

California: Media find watchdog role difficult during recession

Local and state governmental agencies blame budget cuts for their inability to provide information to the media requested under state open records laws. -db The Sacramento Bee March 15, 2010 By Charles Piller State and local government officials increasingly are blaming budget cuts and furloughs when they withhold or delay the release of information requested [...]

Haiti Rewired: Wired.com tackles Haiti’s reconstruction with online collaboration

Haiti Rewired launched by Wired.com following the January earthquake, is an innovative response to the problem of on-going disaster relief. Editor-in-Chief Evan Hansen, a member of FAC’s board, calls the project an online “collaboration of writers, editors, technologists, researchers, geographers, infrastructure specialists, aid groups and others” dedicated to rebooting Haiti’s future. Haiti Rewired’s Mission Statement [...]

Darkness Award highlight: California school district pays for censorship of student newspaper

The Fallbrook Union High School District who censored the student newspaper, cancelled the journalism program and reassigned the newspaper adviser agreed to pay the adviser $7,500 and reimburse the ACLU and its law firm $20,000 for legal costs. In October the First Amendment Coalition awarded its Darkness Award to Rod King, the principal responsible for [...]

New rule allows public access to administrative records of California courts

The California Judicial Council approved a new Rule of Court this week giving the public a right of access to administrative records of Superior and Appellate courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The rule will be in effect January of next year and is modeled after the California Public Records Act. -DB Legislative [...]

Access rule governing state court records out for public comment

The policy body of the state’s courts has published for public comment a rule providing right of access to administrative court records. The deadline for comment is October 29. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association October 7, 2009 The Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the state’s courts, has published for public comment a proposed rule [...]

Santa Clara County pays $500,000 in legal fees to settle FAC suit

FAC’s victory in a lawsuit against Santa Clara County over access to digital mapping data has resulted in the county’s release of the data and payment of $500,000 to FAC’s lawyers, a record-high fee recovery in a California public records case. -DB San Jose Mercury News October 7, 2009 By John Woolfolk Santa Clara County’s [...]