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Obama acts on FAC petition against China’s “Great Firewall”

Peter Scheer October 19, 2011

October 19, 2011—The Obama administration on Wednesday said that, using World Trade Organization rules, it was calling on the government of China to answer detailed questions about its censorship of the internet–in particular, the blocking of websites of US-based businesses seeking to tap the vast Chinese consumer market. The announcement, which grows out of an initiative of a free speech nonprofit group, the First Amendment Coalition (FAC), is a significant step in investigating and challenging

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A&A: How can I get around the CPRA “catch-all” exemption?

FAC October 19, 2011

Q: A recent CPRA request  to the  California Department of  Justice resulted in a partial denial of responsive records; they claimed the deliberative process exemption for the records not provided (citing Times Mirror). If a process is not related to something truly requiring secrecy, are there any options to pursue this information and what would be the appropriate response to their letter? A: For background purposes, Government Code section 6255(a) of the Public Records Act,

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Tunisians march in capital for free speech

donal brown October 18, 2011

About 2000 Tunisians demonstrated in Tunis for free speech in reaction to Islamic attacks on a television company for broadcasting a cartoon with a depiction of god, forbidden under Islamic law. -db From euronews, October 17, 2011. Full story

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Supreme Court keeps grisly videos and photos of murdered inmate private

donal brown October 18, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court declined without comment to review a case barring a legal journal from obtaining gruesome video and autopsy photos of a Colorado inmate murdered by his cellmates. The Prison Legal News had applied to see the photos under the Freedom of Information Act but the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request under the privacy exemption to the act. -db From the Courthouse News Service, October 17, 2011, by Barbara Leonard.

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Federal experiment proceeding with video cameras in courtrooms

donal brown October 18, 2011

A movement to improve the transparency and openness of federal courts is gaining momentum with video cameras recording at least six civil trials courts authorized under the experiment. There is also evidence of progress in several states in preparations for recording court proceedings. -db From a commentary for the Citizen Media Law Project, October 17, 2011 by Eric P. Robinson. Full story

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