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First Amendment News

Free speech in the workplace: Former editor wins legal fees

donal brown February 8, 2010

An arbitrator refused to award damages but did require the payment of over $900,000 in legal fees and arbitration costs to a former Santa Barbara News Press editor who was fighting claims by his employer Ampersand Publishing that he violated his contract by talking about the owner’s interference in the news room. -db The Los Angeles Times February 6, 2010 By Catherine Saillant An arbitrator has awarded $748,022 to former Santa Barbara News Press Editor

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News organizations hopeful about obtaining parole documents of alleged kidnapper

donal brown February 6, 2010

A Sacramento judge tentatively ruled that the state must hand over Phillip Garrido’s parole records. Garrido has been charged with the kidnap of an 11-year-old girl and keeping her in captivity for 18 years. -db The Sacramento Bee February 5, 2010 By Sam Stanton A Sacramento judge issued a tentative ruling Thursday that would require state corrections officials to turn over certain parole documents on Phillip Garrido to The Bee and two other news organizations,

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Carson mayor under investigation after allegations he used mute button to stifle public comment

donal brown February 6, 2010

The District Attorney is investigating a possible Brown Act violation as the Carson mayor has reportedly used a mute button to silence speakers at city council meetings. In November the City Council had given the major the authority to used the button in a 3-2 vote. -db KPCC Southern California Public Radio February 6, 2010 The District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether Carson Mayor Jim Dear violated a state law by using a mute button

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Modesto City Council meeting cancelled to avoid open government violation

donal brown February 6, 2010

The Modesto City Council will still be eating lunch together at the annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon which costs $40 to attend. But they will no longer call it a city council meeting for the mayor’s annual speech since California’s Brown Act prohibits charging the public to attend council meetings. -db The Modesto Bee February 6, 2010 By Leslie Albrecht Modesto leaders sent mixed messages this week about the mayor’s State of the City address,

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Texas cities forced to withdraw from free speech case

donal brown February 6, 2010

Since government agencies cannot suffer First Amendment rights violations, the Texas attorney general said that they cannot particpate in a case against the state’s open meetings law. City council members are contesting the law saying their free speech rights are being denied as the law prohibits government officials from conducting business in secret. -db The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press February 3, 2010 By Miranda Fleschert Four Texas cities that filed a federal lawsuit

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