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Coalition News

California vs. the First Amendment: FAC & Cal Press Panel Discussion, Dec. 5, 2019

FAC November 10, 2019

On December 5, 2019, FAC and the Cal Press Foundation co-hosted a panel discussion on California vs. The First Amendment. In 2019 Golden State governments were behind an unrelenting series of affronts to the First Amendment in 2019. Police went after a journalist’s sources with a sledgehammer. The state attorney general threatened to prosecute reporters and fought in court to weaken the state’s new police accountability law. And a series of decisions at the local

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FAC Moves to Unseal Records in BART Station Murder Case

FAC October 31, 2019

The First Amendment Coalition today asked a judge to unseal records in the criminal case against John Lee Cowell, the man charged in the stabbing death of teenager Nia Wilson at an Oakland BART station in 2018. FAC’s motion to unseal comes after Cowell’s attorney filed a secret motion to toss all charges, potentially preventing the public from knowing anything about what legal arguments or evidence Cowell is using to try to end his case

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FAC Suit Against San Diego DA Forces Disclosure of Employee Misconduct Records

FAC October 21, 2019

The First Amendment Coalition has prevailed in a lawsuit against the San Diego district attorney’s office, forcing the disclosure of public records related to accusations of sexual misconduct by public employees. As a result of FAC’s lawsuit, a court ordered the county to turn over dozens of pages of records. District Attorney Summer Stephan’s decision to not comply with the California Public Records Act comes at a cost to taxpayers: The county will pay nearly

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FAC Expands Subpoena Defense Training to Serve More Journalists

Ginny LaRoe October 2, 2019

The First Amendment Coalition is expanding its Subpoena Defense Initiative, adding free legal seminars in New York and Washington, D.C., to deepen the bench of qualified lawyers able to step up when journalists face threats to press freedom. With generous assistance from First Look Media’s Press Freedom Defense Fund, FAC’s Subpoena Defense Initiative makes sure journalists get connected with legal counsel when someone uses the courts to try to unmask sources or force the disclosure of

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Secret Docket Revealed: FAC Wins Cal Supreme Court Rulings Unsealing Clemency Files

FAC September 16, 2019

The California Supreme Court has issued a series of rulings rejecting the governor’s efforts to seal key clemency records, ensuring transparency in a critical aspect of the criminal justice process.  The rulings — six unanimous opinions issued Sept. 11 — reject Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to keep secret the files the Governor submits in support of his requests for the Supreme Court’s consent to grant clemency to twice-convicted felons. As a result, Governor Newsom is

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