Digital Journalist's Legal Guide

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

Amicus brief in <i>Edmonds v. U.S.</i>

October 19, 2005

Urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a controversial whistleblower case in which the public and press were barred from an appellate hearing with no explanation.
Letter to Chief Justice John Roberts

October 17, 2005

The Reporters Committee and other groups urged the new Chief Justice to consider changes to increase the openness of the courts, including allowing proceedings to be televised.
Motion in <i>U.S. v. Franklin</i>

October 12, 2005

The Reporters Committee filed a motion asking for leave to file a brief in an espionage-related criminal case, which would argue that a broad reading of the statute in the case would allow officials to prosecute journalists for receiving or reporting information the government wants to keep secret.
Reporters Committee objects to Rhode Island federal court gag order rule

August 11, 2005

Urging the court to rescind a rule that would impose gag orders on all parties, lawyers and court personnel in all cases.
Amicus brief in ACLU v. Dept of Defense

August 4, 2005

Urging the court to reject the DOD's argument that Abu Ghraib photos are exempt from release because they might result in violence by U.S. opponents.
Letter to Attorney Gen. Alberto Gonzales

August 2, 2005

The Reporters Committee and other news media organizations urged the Attorney General to amend the "Ashcroft Memorandum" on FOI Act disclosures.
Roberts' record on free press issues

July 21, 2005

A summary of media-related cases handled by Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.
Letter to DHS Sec. Chertoff regarding news media subpoenas

June 8, 2005

The Reporters Committee urged the department to adopt a policy similar to the Justice Department's guidelines regarding questioning and subpoenaing members of the news media.
Amicus brief in O'Grady v. Superior Court/Apple Computer

April 11, 2005

The Reporters Committee argued that the First Amendment rights of journalists are not automatically trumped by California's trade secrets laws when journalists report on a company's marketing plans.
Amicus brief in East Bank Special Service Fire Protection District v. Crossen

March 3, 2005

The Reporters Committee argued that the public has a compelling interest in seeing public employees' disciplinary records, especially when they are entrusted with duties that are critical to a community's well-being, such as teaching, law enforcement and emergency response.
Amicus brief in In re Inquest Subpoena (WCAX)

March 3, 2005

Arguing that the Vermont Supreme Court should recognize a qualified privilege for the protection of a television station's news outtakes.
Amicus brief in Denver Post Corp. v. United States

February 16, 2005

Arguing to the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals that pretrial hearings by military courts are presumptively open to the public.
Amicus brief in Citizen Publishing v. Elleithee

February 15, 2005

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press urged the Supreme Court of Arizona to dismiss an intentional infliction of emotional distress lawsuit over a letter-to-the-editor.
Letter to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (PDF)

November 22, 2004

The Reporters Committtee urged the governor to overturn his office's decision to bar state officials from talking to two Baltimore Sun reporters.
Gonzales, Press Freedoms and the Public's Right to Know

November 15, 2004

Evaluation of the likely impact of Attorney General Nominee Alberto Gonzales on Press Freedoms and the Public's Right to Know

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Briefs & Comments

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