First Amendment News

Chief Justice Ronald M. George has announced the formation of a committee of judges, lawyers and journalists–including CFAC’s executive director, Peter Scheer–to promote improved relations among the courts, the Bar and the media. Here is a press release from the Judicial Council: Chief Justice George Names Bench Bar Media Steering Committee San Francisco—Chief Justice Ronald M. George today announced the appointment of the Judicial Council’s Bench Bar Media Steering Committee, a panel that will help

Discussion on Open Government will follow L.A. Theatre Works March 13 Production of Pentagon Papers Docudrama California First Amendment Coalition Director Peter Scheer to Lead Panel Washington — Sunshine Week will host a discussion on open government and secrecy issues following a Thursday, March 13, L.A. Theatre Works production of “Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers” in Los Angeles. The dialogue will be led by Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First

CFAC today registered its opposition to legislation that seeks to vest in local and state governments monopoly control over real estate data used in digital mapping systems. The legislation, AB 1978, submitted by Assembly member Jose Solorio (D-Orange County), would exempt from the California Public Records Act the basemap data essential for many local applications of digital mapping or “geographic information systems” (GIS). This exclusion would free local governments–Orange County included–to restrict access to the