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 Hammer v. Ashcroft

November 25, 2009

Asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review federal rules prohibiting in-person interviews with death row inmates and prohibiting them from discussing other inmates.
Comments on draft rule on Confidentiality of Juror Personal Information

September 8, 2009

Urging the Virginia Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Rules of Court to reconsider a rule that would introduce sweeping secrecy into the jury system.
Amicus en banc in Rangra v Brown

September 3, 2009

Asking the full Fifth Circuit to uphold the Texas Open Meetings Act as constitutional.
Amicus brief in ACLU v. Dep't of Defense (U.S. Supreme Court)

September 3, 2009

Asking the Supreme Court to decline hearing the case on whether FOIA requires disclosure of images of alleged detainee abuse carried out by U.S. troops in Iraq in Afghanistan.
Amicus brief in Presley v. Georgia

August 13, 2009

Urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision that allowed Georgia judges to bar the public from courtrooms during jury selection.
Amicus in Lorenzo v. City of Venice

August 13, 2009

Urging the Florida court to award attorney’s fees in an open records case.
Amicus brief in U.S. v. Stevens

July 24, 2009

Urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a federal statute that criminalizes possession, creation or sale of a wide variety of depictions involving animals.
Comments on proposed Wisconsin shield law

July 24, 2009

Urging the state legislature to adopt a shield law that protects reporters' rights to keep sources confidential.
Amicus brief in Citizens United v. F.E.C.

July 24, 2009

Arguing that campaign finance reform precedent must be clarified to recognize a First Amendment-based exemption for the news media, broadly defined to include anyone reporting information to the public.
Amicus brief in Sam v. Ossiginac

July 15, 2009

Urging the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Court of Appeals to vacate a prior restraint issued against journalist Nancy Kelsey in violation of the Tribal Constitution, the First Amendment, and the Indian Civil Rights Act.
Amicus brief in The Mortgage Specialists v. Implode-Explode Heavy Industries

June 22, 2009

Urging the New Hampshire Supreme Court to recognize a privilege protecting the identity of the confidential source of a news Web site.
RCFP Amicus Reply in ACLU v. DOD

June 1, 2009

Asking the Second Circuit to uphold its mandate that the government release the images at issue depicting detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison
A summary of media-related decisions by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor

May 27, 2009

Judge Sonia Sotomayor has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for more than 10 years, and before that as a district judge in New York City for six years. With all that federal judicial experience behind her — reportedly more than any Supreme Court nominee in a century — it is surprising to see that no clear standard on First Amendment issues has emerged from her many cases.
Amicus brief in Rangra v. Abbott

May 14, 2009

Urging the 5th Cir. to review a panel decision holding that provisions of the Texas open meetings law restricting officials' communications must be subject to strict scrutiny.
Testimony to the Legislature of the State of Maine

April 29, 2009

Arguing against legislation that would halt public access to the salaries allocated to government positions.

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Briefs & Comments

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