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  • Latest News

    Blog

    Short Takes: government email, historical police records, fee awards against requesters

    BY PETER SCHEER--Despite the dysfunction in Washington, Congress occasionally surprises with a modest piece of legislation that points the way for California and many other states. So it is with a 2014 Federal Records Act amendment which addresses this question: Suppose a federal employee, using his own personal text or email account, sends a […]

    January 21, 2015

  • Latest News

    Blog Cases

    Score one big victory for access to government data

    […] won a big victory. The California Supreme Court sustained FAC's claim that the State Bar—an arm of the judiciary that regulates lawyers—must disclose extensive data on applicants for admission to the Bar (minus their names and other identifying information, as we had urged). Although these data are not covered by California’s open records law, […]

    December 20, 2013

  • Latest News

    Responses to Peter Scheer’s Commentary on Vallejo’s Bankruptcy

    In response to Peter's recent commentary on Vallejo’s Bankruptcy. For most cities staff compensation is the city’s biggest expenditure. There should be more room for citizen oversight and input. One of the most important aspects in need of close scrutiny are a city’s revenue projections. I would guess when Vallejo negotiated and approved staff […]

    June 2, 2009

  • Latest News

    Public schools may take down a student banner stating “Bong Hits 4 Jesus,” the US Supreme Court rules. But not in California.

    […] expression is "obscene, libelous, or slanderous" or if it "incites" a "substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school." EC 48907 provides more free speech protection for students than the qualified student speech rights under the First Amendment, which were the basis for the Morse v. Frederick ruling. EC 48907’s higher level of […]

    June 3, 2009

  • Latest News

    FAC News Press Release

    ProPublica Staffers Win 2018 FAC Award for “Trump Town” Investigative Series

    The First Amendment Coalition is proud to announce the recipient of its 2018 Free Speech & Open Government Award is the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica, selected for its extensive use of public records to increase transparency around political appointees at the highest levels of government. This year’s award goes to ProPublica staffers Derek Kravitz, Al […]

    November 28, 2018

  • Latest News

    Proposition

    […] which was reprinted in several publications. Suffice it to say that I am now in possession of the Chief Executive's new, private email address, the one reserved for family members and close personal friends. (Two additional email addresses have been created for use by, respectively, Cabinet level officials and campaign supporters who contributed $200,000 […]

    June 3, 2009

  • Latest News

    Advocacy Blog

    Pricing the Public Out of Public Records 

    […] math goes something like this: To locate and identify records related to a marijuana eradication program, Mendocino County staff estimated it would take 2,139 hours, costing $67,145. For records revealing details of government workers’ use of the disappearing messaging app Signal, it would take an estimated 534 hours, costing almost $16,900. And just to […]

    May 11, 2023

  • Latest News

    FAC News Press Release

    Boalt Hall professor Steve Barnett and Modesto Bee ME Dan Day join CFAC board

    […] Coalition's board of directors. Barnett is the Elizabeth Josselyn Professor of Law (Emeritus) at Boalt Hall. A leading scholar of First Amendment issues, Barnett is also known for his expertise in California appellate law, both as a teacher and practitioner, and as an outspoken critic of the California Supreme Court. Day oversees daily news, […]

    June 2, 2009

  • Latest News

    FAC News Press Release

    Peter Scheer honored with Cal Press Foundation Award

    […] to enforce Proposition 59. Scheer is stepping down as FAC executive director effective Dec. 31, 2016. His successor as executive director is David Snyder, a First Amendment lawyer and former journalist. The Jack Bates Award is named after its first recipient and CNPA's legendary former executive director, the award represents effective leadership in addressing newspaper challenges.

    November 29, 2016

  • Latest News

    Advocacy Blog

    Pardon Power and Your Right to Know

    […] grants. What we learned from that high-profile pardon was that the process surrounding these decisions is highly secretive. That’s because the court records generated when the governor recommends clemency for those twice convicted of felonies — a specific category of people whose applications are subject to oversight by the California Supreme Court — have been routinely […]

    September 18, 2021