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donal brown

High court rules for open criminal trials

donal brown January 20, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court found that under the First Amendment, the public has the right of access to jury selection under the First and Sixth Amendments. The ruling came in a case in which a trial judge had excluded a criminal defendant’s uncle from viewing jury selection to keep the prospective jurors from mingling with the audience. -DB The National Law Journal January 20, 2010 By Tony Mauro The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday strengthened

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Lobbyists not registering to avoid stricter rules

donal brown January 20, 2010

In a reaction to strict new Congressional regulations, in increasing numbers, advocates are not registering as lobbyists making it harder to track the effect of campaign contributions and meetings with public officials. -DB The New York Times January 18, 2010 By David D. Kirkpatrick WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ellen Miller, co-founder of the Sunlight Foundation, has spent years arguing for rules to force more disclosure of how lobbyists and private interests shape public policy. Until recently, she

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Internet raises stakes in cases pitting public disclosure against right to privacy

donal brown January 19, 2010

In Doe v. Reed, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh the right to privacy under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and association against the need for open government and transparency in public elections. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January 19, 2010 By Tony Mauro WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has agreed to review a case that presents the classic tension between public disclosure and personal privacy but with the added twist

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Twitter emerges as vehicle for publicizing final health care bill

donal brown January 19, 2010

Congressional leaders announced that the final health care bill will go online on Twitter 72 hours prior to its consideration on the floor, a move that firmly establishes the social media as a significant player in providing public assess to the nation’s business. -DB Sunlight Foundation Opinion January 15, 2010 By Paul Blumenthal So, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer announced that they were going to place the final health care bill online for 72 hours

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Domestic partnership law: Supreme Court takes case on privacy for petition signers

donal brown January 19, 2010

The Supreme Court agreed last week to consider whether the First Amendment guarantees the right of privacy to those signing ballot-initiative petitions. -DB The New York Times January 16, 2010 By Adam Liptak WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether the First Amendment requires that the names of people who sign ballot-initiative petitions be kept secret. As in the court’s decision on Wednesday to block the broadcasting of the trial

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