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Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
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Everything online journalists need to protect their legal rights. This free resource culls from all Reporters Committee resources and includes exclusive content on digital media law issues.

Briefs & Comments

  • Obsidian Finance Group, LLC, et al., v. Crystal Cox
    October 17, 2012

    Kevin Padrick and Obsidian Finance Group, LLC sued blogger Crystal Cox, claiming that Cox libeled them through a series of postings on her Internet blog. The trial court jury ruled in favor of Padrick and Obsidian and returned a $2.5 million verdict in their favor. Cox moved for a new trial, which was denied. The decision in the trial court below turned on whether she was a journalist and whether her speech involved a matter of public concern – both of which affects the standard of liability under Oregon law.

  • Air Wisconsin Airlines v. Hoeper
    October 15, 2012

    William Hoeper, a former pilot for Air Wisconsin Airlines, sued his former employer for defamation after employees from the regional airline notified Transportation Security Administration officials of their concerns about Mr. Hoeper's "mental stability" following a failed proficiency flight training test.

  • Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co.
    October 15, 2012

    A federal trial court judge in California ordered that many of the documents in the patent litigation between Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics should be publicly released, and the two technology companies have appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit, which oversees patent appeals.

  • Amicus brief in Clapper v. Amnesty International USA
    September 24, 2012

    A coalition of attorneys, journalists and labor, legal, media and human rights organizations challenged amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allow federal officials to monitor international electronic communications even if one party is in the United States. The federal trial court in New York found that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated sufficient harm such that they have standing to challenge the amendments. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York (2nd Cir.) reversed that ruling, and the U.S.

  • Center for Constitutional Rights v. U.S. (Pfc. Bradley Manning court-martial)
    September 4, 2012

    The Center for Constitutional Rights and a number of other organizations moved to intervene in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning for access to documents filed in connection with the proceeding. The trial court denied the request, a decision that was affirmed by the military's intermediate appellate court. CCR appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the military's highest appellate court. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, joined by 30 news media organizations, filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of CCR's position.

  • United States v. Roe v. Doe
    August 27, 2012

    In United States v. Roe, the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York (2nd Cir.) found last year that a court order prohibiting a lawyer from disseminating sealed court records involved in the prosecution of John Doe, an unnamed businessman turned government cooperator, did not violate the attorney's First Amendment rights.

  • Comments to the Utah Judicial Council re: Code of Judicial Administration Proposed Rules 4-401.01 and 4-401.02
    August 22, 2012

    The Reporters Committee strongly supports rules adopted by the Utah Judicial Council that would allow electronic media coverage and the use of portable electronic devices in criminal and civil trial court proceedings.

  • United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et. al.
    August 20, 2012

    While recognizing that certain interests may justify a judicial decision to refuse to release certain information prior to and during a trial, the Reporters Committee amicus brief argued that an order that prohibits disclosure of such information indefinitely and presumably well beyond a trial has ended and these interests are no longer an issue is unconstitutionally overbroad.

  • United States Mission Corporation v. KIRO TV, Inc.
    August 17, 2012

    The Reporters Committee argues in its amicus brief that Washington's anti-SLAPP statute does not inhibit any First Amendment rights of U.S. Mission because its suit should be considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation, and therefore, without merit.

  • Letter to Department of Justice on public meetings
    June 22, 2012

    The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press sent a letter to Department of Justice officials urging them to immediately abandon an apparent internal policy of ordering journalists not to record or quote its attorneys’ statements at public meetings.

  • Letter to R.I. Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee
    June 15, 2012

    The Reporters Committee urged the governor to sign into law H 7555, which would amend the public records act to increase access to certain records and improve enforcement of the Act.

  • Letter to U.S. Supreme Court requesting access to audio recording of annoucement of Court's opinion in health-care case
    June 14, 2012

    The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other media organizations writes to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts asking for the Court to allow audio and video recording of the announcement of its decision in the three cases involving proposed federal health-care legislation.

  • Written testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
    June 6, 2012

    Written testimony of Lucy A. Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, on behalf of the Sunshine in Government Initiative, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on "Addressing Concerns about the Integrity of the U.S. Department of Labor's Jobs Reporting."

  • Oral testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
    June 6, 2012

    Oral testimony of Lucy A. Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, on behalf of the Sunshine in Government Initiative, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on "Addressing Concerns about the Integrity of the U.S. Department of Labor's Jobs Reporting."

  • Courthouse News Service v. Plant
    June 5, 2012

    Courthouse News Service challenged a policy of the Ventura County, Calif., Superior Court that withholds from public inspection records filed with the court until after the court completes its processing, which takes several days and sometimes much longer. Courthouse News filed an action in federal court, claiming that the procedure violates its First Amendment-based right of public access. The trial court dismissed the case, holding that federal courts should not unduly interfere with pending and future state court proceedings.