First Amendment News

A federal judge ruled that telecoms enjoyed immunity from suits for their participation in warrantless wiretapping. The EFF and the ACLU plan to appeal the decision saying the immunity granted by Congress is unconstitutional. -DB Electronic Frontier Foundation Press Release June 3, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge today dismissed dozens of lawsuits over illegal domestic surveillance of American citizens, ruling that telecommunications companies had immunity from liability under the controversial FISA Amendments Act

A veteran community college trustee said her colleagues may have held illegal “serial meetings” in violation of the state’s open meetings law. The trustee admitted the allegations were based on hearsay. -DB Stockton Record June 4, 2009 By Alex Breitler STOCKTON – All seven trustees at San Joaquin Delta College denied violating state open meetings laws Wednesday, one day after a longtime trustee sternly warned that some of her colleagues may be engaged in “serial

A former mayor was sworn in as an Imperial Beach City Council member, but a group of residents say the appointment did not meet California’s open government requirements. -DB San Diego Union-Tribune June 3, 2009 By Janine Zúñiga IMPERIAL BEACH – Former Mayor Diane Rose was sworn into office Wednesday, temporarily filling a City Council seat left vacant by the May 24 death of Councilman Fred McLean. But the appointment was not without controversy. A

A North County community activist says that a decision by mayors, county supervisors and water district reps about desalination was made at a hastily called meeting and did not take adequate notice of crucial issues including potential salt water intrusion and impact on wells. -DB Monterey Herald Guest commentary June 2, 2009 By Ed Mitchell North County community activists have dedicated years to be included in a regional water solution because we have neighbors without

The EPA announced that in determining standards for air pollutants, it will gather all relevant scientific findings, reestablish a key role for staff assessments and invite public comment on the draft review plan. -DB OMB Watch June 2, 2009 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it will increase the influence of scientists and the level of transparency in setting standards for common air pollutants, a reversal of a Bush administration policy that politicized