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 U.S. Dep't of Treasury v. City of Chicago

February 5, 2003

Arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court should uphold a decision requiring release of information from ATF gun sales databases.
Amicus brief in Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. New Jersey

January 21, 2003

Urging the Supreme Court to review a case in which a judge's order forbidding contact with jurors after a trial was upheld.
Statement of principles on coverage of war on terrorism

December 19, 2002

A coalition of 16 journalism groups urged the Bush administration to abide by guidelines established by the Pentagon and media groups, sending a Statement of Principles to Pentagon and White House officials.
Amicus brief in Weinburger v. Maplewood Review

November 27, 2002

Urging the Minnesota Supreme Court to find the state shield law protects against subpoenas in libel suits.
Comments regarding public access to critical energy infrastructure information

November 13, 2002

The Reporters Committee objected to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's proposal to limit public access to a broad category of public information.
Comments regarding Local Rule 5.03 (D.S.C.) on secret settlements

September 27, 2002

The Reporters Committee and others urged South Carolina federal judges to adopt a proposed rule that would ban secret settlements.
Amicus brief in Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety v. Doe

August 2, 2002

Urging the court to find that governmental dissemination of truthful information about a person does not trigger "due process" requirements.
Comments to the Executive Office of Immigration Review

July 30, 2002

Arguing that the EOIR must change its proposed rule on sealing and protective orders to recognize First Amendment interests.
Amicus brief in Otte v. Doe (later restyled Godfrey v. Doe)

June 3, 2002

Urging the Supreme Court to hold that dissemination of information from sex offender registries is not a "punishment" that violates the Ex Post Facto clause of the U.S. Constitution
Amicus brief in Rossignol v. Voorhaar

May 30, 2002

A newspaper publisher's rights are violated when a sheriff and his deputies removed all copies of a newspaper on election morning to keep the electorate from reading unfavorable coverage of a candidate -- even when the officials pay for the copies they took.
World Press Freedom Day column

May 3, 2002

In the aftermath of September 11th, the U.S. government has moved to limit access to important information.
Comments on Draft Model Policy on Public Access to Court Records

April 15, 2002

The Reporters Committee filed comments on April 15, 2002, finding fault with "model" proposals that would restrict access to a wide range of court documents
Comments on Critical Energy Infrastructure Information rules

March 11, 2002

The Reporters Committee objected to FERC's proposals to limit public access to such information.
Amicus brief in Gonzaga University v. Doe

February 22, 2002

Urging the Supreme Court to limit Section 1983 claims over alleged privacy interests
Letter to the Attorney General about a news subpoena for Vanessa Leggett

January 14, 2002

The Reporters Committee asked Ashcroft to tread carefully before issuing a second subpoena against the author, and to treat her as a journalist by applying the department's own rules on subpoenaing a member of the news media.

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Briefs & Comments

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