First Amendment News

Concerned about a documentary film critical of their policies, the California Costal Commission has taken the unusual step of serving a subpoena for a copy of the work in progress, a move that critics say chills freedom of expression. –DB CalAware June 11, 2009 FREE PRESS—The California Coastal Commission has served a subpoena on documentary filmmaker Richard Oshen for a copy of his unreleased work, “Sins of Commission,” a move which he fears may be

Federal court tightens administrative vice on student speech A student who challenged her principal’s authority by including religious appeals in her valedictory speech had her suit against the school district dismissed by a appeals judge in part on the grounds that the speech was a learning opportunity and given the Supreme Court precedent of in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier subject to content review. -DB Citizen Media Law Project June 12, 2009 By Lee Baker In a

Schwarzenegger’s Calendars CFAC sued Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to obtain his calendars of meetings and those of his top aides. CFAC argued that a state Supreme Court decision sustaining a denial of access to these records was implicitly overturned by Prop 59, which the governor had championed during the election. Schwarzenegger settled, agreeing to turn over nearly all the calendars. Legal Documents Commentary In the news Legal Documents Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate Governor’s Office

CFAC v. CalPERS CFAC successfully sued CALPERS, California’s public employee retirement system, to force it to disclose the management fees it pays to venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds in which CALPERS invests. Because of its huge size, CALPERS is the de facto standard-setter for the pension industry nationally. When CALPERS settled CFAC’s suit, agreeing to most of the fee disclosures CFAC had sought, public pension plans across the country followed suit. Legal Documents

CFAC v. Santa Clara County Decisions Legal Documents Press Releases In the news Decisions May 18, 2007 California Superior Court rules in favor of CFAC Legal briefs and other major pleadings (by date) California 6th Appellate Court of Appeals April 11, 2008 CFAC ‘Return’ – Main Merits Brief on Appeal July 5, 2007 Santa Clara Reply to Preliminary Opposition June 25, 2007 CFAC Preliminary Opposition to the Appeal June 12, 2007 Santa Clara Appeal –