Legal Hotline

FAC's Free Legal Hotline

The Legal Hotline gives users quick, free access to FAC’s lawyers for questions about access to public records and your right to attend government meetings in California; access to court documents and proceedings in California and federal courts; and First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

General Information

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Hotline Inquiry

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What is your question?

We prioritize urgent requests. Is your request time-sensitive? For instance, are you a reporter on deadline or a journalist facing a subpoena?(Required)

Your question can help others! May FAC anonymize your question and our response and post it to our website?(Required)

Other Information

FAC offers specialized trainings and resources to meet the needs of journalists, lawyers, and those who engage in activism of all kinds. To help us reach you with relevant information, please select all that apply to you:

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Hotline User

Please Note:

A Hotline attorney will get back to you by phone or email (most likely by email) within a matter of days. Reporters on deadline should note that in the subject of the request and expect a rapid response.

It’s possible the Hotline lawyers have already answered a similar question. Visit our Asked & Answered page and search the database of past hotline questions and answers. Or search our Explainers section to see answers to commonly asked questions.

The hotline is not for legal questions outside these areas of law. And it does not provide legal services or legal representation, like preparing documents or appearing in court.

FAC makes this service free, thanks to support from people like you. Help keep FAC’s programs free and consider making a contribution of any size. All of FAC’s supporters and members are given priority in access to Hotline attorneys.