A deaf University of Oregon sign language instructor claims that the university violated his free speech rights by suspending him for a comment that he says students took out of context.-db From the Courthouse News Service, November 28, 2011, by Nick McCann. Full story
The FBI has refused a Freedom of Information Act request for documents relating to the use of an inside informant on the work of Common Ground Relief, a group dedicated to Hurricane Katrina relief and critical of the Bush administration’s response to the disaster. The FBI said releasing the documents would violate the privacy of its informant. -db From the Courthouse News Service, November 23, 2011, by Sarina Canfield. Full story
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed disclosure of signatures for a Washington referendum to overturn a law granting domestic partners the same rights as married couples. The opponents of gay marriage had argued that they would be subject to threats, harassment and reprisals if the signatures were released to the public. -db From the Courthouse News Service, November 23, 2011, by Barbara Leonard. Full story
As trials of accused terrorists begin at Guantanamo Bay, the Defense Department released new regulations designed to create better access to court filings. Journalists have objected to the long review processes for obtaining court filings without which they were lost when covering the trials. -db From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, November 22, 2011, by Kirsten Berg. Full story
Q: I am a newly elected school board member. Our upcoming agenda will contain a closed session item that has also been discussed in closed session prior to my appointment. Can I ask the staff and board members who participated in the prior closed session to divulge what was discussed? A: I am not aware of any authority specifying whether a new member of the legislative body is “a person … entitled to receive” confidential