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Asked and Answered

CPRA School Records

Records Request, Community College, and Time Limits

[…] you may be able to resolve this problem informally if you can get the attorney's attention. As a practical matter, one option would be to send a letter to the Community College and its attorney, describing your original request, explaining that the school is in violation of the PRA because of the delay in […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Accessing DMV Files

[…] to remind the DMV of its legal obligation to justify a denial of a records request. A sample PRA request is available on CFAC's website at: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/cpra-primer/sample-cpra-request- letter/. With respect to getting certified copies of those records, I was just informed by a DMV representative that you can walk into any DMV office and […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Police Records

Can A Request for A Code Enforcement Complaint Be Denied?

[…] procedures…or security files compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes." Gov. Code, § 6254(f). Though I can’t advise you as to your particular situation, I would observe that, as a general […]

January 26, 2018
Asked and Answered

Newsgathering

Can CSU lobby for laws that boost their budget?

I am working on an article concerning letters CSU sent out that seem to advocate Proposition 30, the California tax initiative that will help reduce cuts to the school system. I had a few questions on the legality of this.

December 23, 2012
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Is it a Brown Act violation to hold a virtual meeting without telephone access for those without the internet?

[…] a reviewing court could always disagree on the reasonableness of the Board’s efforts to hold open meetings, and the Board’s option here appears to comply with the letter of the Governor’s executive orders by enabling observation of the proceedings "otherwise electronically." Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition […]

July 7, 2020
Asked and Answered

Newsgathering

Can police use hidden cameras to videotape the public without consent?

[…] to the tariffs of a public utility, or (3) to any telephonic communication system used for communication exclusively within a state, county, city and county, or city correctional facility. (f) This section does not apply to the use of hearing aids and similar devices, by persons afflicted with impaired hearing, for the purpose of […]

October 26, 2011
Latest News

Blog

Maybe summoning the press before Parliament isn’t such a bad idea

[…] contractor, Edward Snowden. Press advocates weren’t pleased. Carl Bernstein, the Watergate-era star who’s on the Mount Rushmore of 20th century media heroes, certainly wasn’t. In an open letter to Rusbridger, Bernstein objected to Parliament’s "hauling in journalists for questioning and trying to intimidate them," and said the editor’s appearance before a House of Commons […]
- Press Freedom
December 18, 2013
Asked and Answered

CPRA First Amendment Newsgathering Police Records

Investigative files and the CPRA

[…] or security files compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes . . . ."However, some of the records you are describing may have been introduced as evidence in the judicial proceedings […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Enforcement of the Public Records Act

As to who enforces the Public Records Act ("PRA"), it is true that the recourse in the event of an improper denial is to sue the agency. In order to facilitate such litigation, the PRA provides that prevailing parties in PRA litigation are entitled to their attorneys' fees. Govt. Code § 6259(d) ("The court shall […]

June 14, 2009
Latest News

Cases Press Release

UCLA Turns Over Video of Contentious Event with Treasury Secretary After Public Records Requests Flood in

[…] from the U.S. Treasury Department on March 9, 2018 to post the full video of Secretary Mnuchin’s recent presentation at UCLA to the Burkle Center’s website," the letter stated. FAC Executive Director David Snyder says it is "deeply concerning" that a public university is taking cues from a third-party as to whether they should […]
March 12, 2018