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FAC, EFF and Wired win unsealing of documents in hip-hop website seizure case

FAC May 15, 2012

BY DEBORAH FRUIN–A federal district court in Los Angeles has unsealed records related to a government shutdown of a music blog/website, Dajaz1.com, for suspicion of copyright piracy. The unsealing had been requested by FAC, Wired, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Using a forfeiture authority usually invoked to seize cars and houses in drug cases, federal authorities had seized the hip hop website, then avoided a hearing in the matter and refused to give an explanation

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Appeal filed in case of Tulare County supervisors’ ‘unofficial’ lunch meetings

donal brown May 5, 2011

The First Amendment Coalition and a number of newspapers across the state are appealing a case involving an alleged Brown Act violation by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors who held 30 lunch meetings without public participation. A superior court judge dismissed the suit as lacking factual basis to proceed to trial. The appeal is seen as a way to honor the memory of open-government advocate and CalAware co-founder Rich McKee who died last month.

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Electronic Frontier Foundation joins media groups in filing amicus brief to uphold access to GIS maps

donal brown January 24, 2011

EFF is asking a California Court of Appeal to uphold the public’s right to electronic files created by local governments in the case Sierra Club v. Superior Court. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Commentary By Mark Rumold Last week, EFF joined a coalition of public interest and media groups in filing an amicus brief (pdf) urging a California Court of Appeal to uphold the public’s right to access electronic files created and stored by local governments.

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Federal appeals court says cheerleader must cheer for player accused of sexually assaulting her

donal brown September 28, 2010

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a cheerleader’s refusal to root for an athlete accused of sexual assaulting her is not protected speech, and the school district had “no duty to promote” the cheerleader’s message. -db Salon.com Commentary September 24, 2010 By Tracy Clark-Flory Cheerleading is often maligned as an illegitimate, unchallenging sport — but you just try to imagine having to shake your pom-poms for an athlete accused of sexually assaulting you.

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California: Media find watchdog role difficult during recession

donal brown March 15, 2010

Local and state governmental agencies blame budget cuts for their inability to provide information to the media requested under state open records laws. -db The Sacramento Bee March 15, 2010 By Charles Piller State and local government officials increasingly are blaming budget cuts and furloughs when they withhold or delay the release of information requested under the state Public Records Act. The result is a diminished ability for the media to perform their watchdog role

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