Write a review of FAC to help us keep our Top Rated Nonprofit status!

Search Results

Showing 111 - 120 of 691 results

Handbooks

California Public Records Act Primer

[…] Public Records Act. The California Law Revision Commission has this table showing how previous sections of the Public Records Act were renumbered. This is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship. Questions or corrections: contact the First Amendment Coalition at FAC@firstamendmentcoalition.org. Last updated July 2023.
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Records
July 8, 2024
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Access to public records denied during business hours

[…] employees"). If you would like a copy of a particular record, you should make your request in writing to the agency (a sample Public Records Act request letter may be found on this website: Sample CPRA Request Letter. The request must "reasonably describe an identifiable record or records." Gov't Code section 6253(b). You are […]

November 21, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

School Board Trustees meeting with union reps in violation of Brown Act

[…] null and void because it was taken in violation of certain provisions of the Brown Act is that a written demand be sent demanding that the body cure and correct the action. Please note, however, that the Brown Act imposes fairly strict requirements on the enforcement of the Brown Act, including deadlines for taking […]

August 29, 2010
Posts

First Amendment

FAC Urges Orange School Board Member to Retract Statement Threatening Speech Rights

[…] liable for these slanderous comments, so you need to be very careful of that, so I’m warning you about that." FAC Legal Director David Loy sent a letter to Mr. Ortega explaining that his threats violated the First Amendment and California law. As Loy wrote, "critique of elected officials is democracy, not defamation." The […]
- Free Expression
January 31, 2023
Latest News

Blog

It starts again: A Washington, DC judge has ordered 5 journalists to name their confidential sources for stories about the anthrax letters of 2001
- Press Freedom
June 3, 2009
Latest News

Blog

An open letter to judges in the BALCO appeal
- Press Freedom
June 2, 2009
Posts

FAC Urges California Highway Patrol to Release Public Records Relating to 2016 California State Capitol Violence

The First Amendment Coalition today submitted a letter to the California Highway Patrol, urging CHP to release public records it has refused to disclose regarding the violent clashes at the California State Capitol on June 26, 2016. The letter also calls CHP to task for the apparent use of a public records request as […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Records
February 16, 2018
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Access to government officials’ email on personal account

Suppose a public official advises certain persons to communicate with him at home -- either by email or letter -- in order to avoid having to disclose any of those communications as public records under the California Public Records Act? Would those records, in fact, be exempt from the PRA?

June 8, 2009
Posts

FAC Urges California Courts to Ensure Public Access Amid COVID-19 Emergency

[…] courtrooms or via video must in some way be open to the public and press. See, Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U.S. 1 (1986). Gov. Newsom correctly designated the press as "essential" and therefore they are exempt from the state’s "shelter in place" order. Reporters, who serve as the eyes and ears of […]
March 25, 2020
Asked and Answered

CPRA

My PRA request denied, but Buzzfeed published documents on similar case

[…] tried to fix some of them. After I left, a CBOP inspector (a specially trained pharmacist) investigated the hospital pharmacy. In December of 2015, I received a letter from the CBOP citing me for a total of $5000. I was advised by my attorney that since it is a government agency, the citation cannot […]

September 2, 2016