First Amendment News

Attorney General subpoenas New York Times reporter over book on C.I.A.

A lawyer for New York Times reporter James Risen says he will honor his commitment to keep his sources confidential in resisting a subpoena to provide documents about his 2006 book about the Central Intelligency Agency.  -db The New York Times April 28 2010 By Charlie Savage WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration is seeking to compel a writer to testify about his confidential sources for a 2006 book about the Central Intelligence Agency, a

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Iraq war: Federal transparency lacking without muscle behind Freedom of Information Act

Frank Smyth, the Journalism Security Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, argues that Obama’s promises for greater transparency are proving empty with the military failing to provide access to information about the killing of civilians and journalists in Iraq. -db Committee to Protect Journalists Commentary April 26, 2010 By Frank Smyth WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House says it wants to improve transparency. Greater access to information could prevent deaths of journalists in the

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Free speech: Federal judge challenges prosecution to prove Michigan militia did more than just talk

A federal district judge said that federal prosecutors must show that the Michigan militiamen arrested for “seditious conspiracy” were about to launch an attack on government targets. -db Deroit Free Press April 29, 2010 By Ben Schmitt Federal prosecutors today argued in a court document that their office has met the threshold for the detention of nine members of the Hutaree militia group charged with seditious conspiracy even if they did not yet prove imminent

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News organizations want open hearings over West Virginia mine deaths

Eight news organizations and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has asked the Mine Safety and Health Administration to conduct open hearings about the mne disaster that killed 25 miners in early this month. -db Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Press Release April 27, 2010 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and eight news organizations today sent a letter urging the Mine Safety and Health Administration to conduct public

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Same-sex marriage referendum: Supreme Court justices voice skepticism about keeping signatures private

In hearing arguments about keeping referendum signatures private in a referendum to repeal Washington’s domestic partnership law, several justices appeared unsympathetic to arguments of the attorney opposing making the signatures public. -db Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press April 28, 2010 By Mara Zimmerman The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical of the argument that signatures on a referendum to repeal Washington state’s domestic partnership law should be kept private. The court heard

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