Search

Categories

Total Results

No Record Found

View All Results
DONATE

News & Opinion

FAC files Brown Act suit alleging pattern & practice of “notice” violations by LA City Council

FAC May 5, 2010

FAC–The First Amendment Coalition has filed suit against the Los Angeles City Council over the Council’s failure to tell the public, in advance, that it was about to consider and vote on layoffs of thousands of government workers. FAC’s suit, claiming a “pattern and practice” of violations of the Brown Act, requests declaratory and injunctive relief. At issue is a City Council special meeting on February 18 at which the Council voted to reaffirm a

Read More »

AP, Bloomberg, CNET, Wired.com, LA Times, CNPA join FAC motion in lost-iPhone case

FAC May 5, 2010

FAC–The First Amendment Coalition and major news media have requested the California Court presiding over the Gizmodo/missing iPhone matter to unseal judicial records relating to the warrant issued for the search of an online journalist’s home and the seizure of his computer, hard drives and other digital files. The motion to unseal the warrant affidavit (which you can see here) was filed May 5 and requests a hearing immediately. The motion argues that the affidavit

Read More »

Federal court voids injunction on ‘Catcher in the Rye’ sequel

donal brown May 4, 2010

A federal appeals court vacated a lower court’s injunction on the publication of a sequel to “Catcher in the Rye” without ruling on the issue of whether the injunction constituted unlawful prior restraint on speech. -db The New York Times April 30, 2010 By Dave Itzkoff A United States appeals court on Friday vacated a lower court’s order to enjoin the publication of a novel described as a sequel to J. D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye.”

Read More »

UN sees freedom of information as crucial in promoting justice, development and democracy

donal brown May 4, 2010

In marking World Press Freedom Day, top United Nations officials condemned the killing of journalists, 77 last year, and called for countries to protect those working in the media. -db UN News Centre May 3, 2010 Marking the annual World Press Freedom Day, top United Nations officials have called for promoting the universal right to publicly-held information as well as ensuring the safety of all those who work in the media. “Some journalists risk intimidation,

Read More »

Group challenges UC Berkeley’s restrictions of use of “California” in naming student organizations

donal brown May 3, 2010

The University of California at Berkeley claims the right to control the use of its school name in various contexts, but insists FIRE, these restrictions may violate the First Amendment. -db FIRE Opinion May 3, 2010 By Adam Kissel The University of California at Berkeley restricts student organizations from using the words “California,” “Cal,” and “Berkeley” in organization names without prior permission. Like many colleges and universities across California, Berkeley is enforcing unconstitutional provisions that

Read More »