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 Ohio ex rel. The Dispatch Printing Co. v. City of Columbus

March 24, 2000

The Reporters Committee argued that Ohio law does not allow private contracts to limit the public’s right to access government information.
Amicus brief in United Reporting v. California Highway Patrol

March 23, 2000

Brief arguing that state laws distinguishing between types of records requestors violate equal protection guarantees.
Letter supporting camera access in Nichols trial

February 28, 2000

The Reporters Committee urged the state judge presiding over Terry Nichols' murder trial to allow camera access to the courtroom.
Comments on Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information

February 17, 2000

Rules proposed by the Health and Human Services Administration for HIPAA compliance do not adequately protect public interests in some patient information.
Amicus brief in Knight Publishing Co. v. Presbyterian Health Services Corp.

February 11, 2000

Brief urging U.S. Supreme Court to hear case petitioning for First Amendment right of access to civil trials
Amicus brief in Taucher v. Born

January 7, 2000

Brief arguing that CFTC regulation requiring registration of financial reporters is unconstitutional
Amicus brief in Lissner v. U.S. Customs Service

December 17, 1999

Brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to overturn a decision withholding investigative records
Amicus letter brief, In re: Samsung Telecommunications of America

December 10, 1999

Urging Texas Supreme Court to rehear appeal of order requiring journalists to sign confidentiality pledge before attending trial
Protest to Judicial Conference over denial of access to disclosure forms

December 9, 1999

The Reporters Committee protested a federal judge's decision to deny an Internet news site access to judicial financial disclosure forms, and encouraged the judicial committee to reverse the ban.
Reporters Committee protests Seattle reporter's arrest

December 2, 1999

The Reporters Committee urged the mayor of Seattle to ensure that more reporters do not get swept up in arrests while covering protests of the World Trade Organization conference.
Amicus brief in United States v. Weatherhead

November 19, 1999

Letters from foreign governments cannot be treated as automatically exempt under the FOI Act.
Protest letter to Judge Roger Bradford, Valparaiso, Indiana

September 22, 1999

A letter protesting a judge's order limiting trial participants' rights to talk to media
Amici Curiae brief, United States v. Larry Matthews

July 30, 1999

Arguing in support of a journalist's right to present a First Amendment defense to a technical violation of the law
RCFP testimony on status of EFOIA Act

June 9, 1998

Reporters Committee Executive Director Jane E. Kirtley testified June 9 before the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology about the status of implementation of the Electronic FOI Improvements Act of 1996.

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Briefs & Comments

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