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Showing 71 - 80 of 1525 results

  • Latest News

    Blog Cases

    Texas open meeting law supported by FAC amicus stands

    The Texas Open Meetings Act supported by an FAC amicus brief withstood a constitutional challenge by former city council members who asserted the law violated their rights to exchange e-mail messages discussing city business in secret. September 10, 2009 After four years of litigation, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Dallas (5th Cir.) todayย  […]

    September 11, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    First Amendment

    In Texas, town hall meeting nixed videotaping

    Is there an equivalent of a Brown Act for Texas? I was at a Congressional town hall meeting, and a member of the Congresswoman's staff told me I was not allowed to video record the meeting. Is that legal?

    August 1, 2011

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act First Amendment

    School board changed public comments without notice

    Starting in January, the board of education of our unified school district has been systematically trying-- and often succeeding--in suppressing or censoring public comments. For more years than I can count, the board has provided a democratic, albeit cumbersome, method of accommodating the public's right to speak onย  items not on the agenda. Speakers […]

    March 30, 2010

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Brown Act violations in closed session real-property negotiations

    […] to know how to use the "Cure and Correct" action to cause the Council to have to invalidate the property sale. I am not sure if an open session vote to proceed with the property sale can be invalidated with a "Cure and Correct" letter due to incorrect closed session procedure. If so, how […]

    September 8, 2016

  • Latest News

    FAC News

    Now Hiring: 2023 Legal Fellow

    […] First Amendment rights of free speech and press. FAC also defends press independence by providing legal assistance to journalists served with subpoenas for their confidential sources or newsgathering materials. Core Responsibilities: Researching, drafting, submitting, and following up on requests for government records under the California Public Records Act ("CPRA") or federal Freedom of Information […]

    September 9, 2022

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act CPRA

    City-Funded Committees with Non-Public Official Member

    The issue is that the City funded a committee of residents to develop a strategy to pass an open space initiative (at one Council meeting the money was referred to as seed money).ย  Two City Council members were on the committee, but have refused to give the names of the other members. The ordinance […]

    June 14, 2009

  • Posts

    Legislature approves FAC-sponsored bill on cell phone privacy. Will Brown sign it?

    […] the Assembly in August. Police ordinarily have authority, following an arrest, to conduct a search--without a warrant--of the person arrested and materials and containers in his possession--for example, a wallet, any weapons, or a cigarette pack. SB 914 alters this rule for "portable electronic devices" because of the volume and sensitivity of personal files […]

    September 2, 2011