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

Comments on amendments to Florida court rules

April 1, 2008

Urging the state Supreme Court to reject a proposal to treat as confidential all requests to seal records in criminal cases.
Comments on Public Access to Court Records

March 24, 2008

The Reporters Committee commented on proposed access rules presented to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which create a presumption of access to records but defer a decision on allowing greater electronic access.
Amicus brief in Bank Julius Baer v. Wikileaks

February 29, 2008

The Reporters Committee joined a media coalition opposing a prior restraint against the wikileaks.org web site which completely cut off access to the site.
Amicus brief in In re September 11 Litigation

December 21, 2007

Arguing that records in the civil case over liability following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks should be open to the public.
Amicus brief in Billings Gazette v. Montana

December 3, 2007

Urging the court to recognize the public interest in opening attorney disciplinary proceedings.
Amicus brief in Forum Communications v. Jahnke (N.D.)

November 20, 2007

Arguing that court records related to a lawsuit between the NCAA and University of North Dakota should not be sealed.
Amicus brief in Asociacion de Periodistas de Puerto Rico v. Mueller

November 6, 2007

Arguing that a civil rights lawsuit filed by journalists who were assaulted by FBI agents in Puerto Rico should not have been dismissed.
Comments to federal judiciary on electronic access to plea bargain records

October 26, 2007

The Reporters Committee urged the courts to continue to allow online access to plea bargains.
Letter to St. George, Utah, judge in reporter's contempt case

October 24, 2007

The Reporters Committee argued that it was inappropriate for a judge to compel a television reporter to produce a report on "a public need" as punishment for a contempt finding.
Comments on camera access to Minnesota courts

October 18, 2007

The Reporters Committee recommended that Minnesota courts change their long-standing policy and adopt court rules that would allow electronic and photographic equipment into the state’s trial courts.
Evaluation of the likely impact of Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey on Press Freedoms and the Public's Right to Know

September 20, 2007

A report on the cases and holdings of Michael Mukasey related to the First Amendment and freedom of information issues.
Amicus brief in Hammer v. Ashcroft

August 8, 2007

Arguing that a prison's ban on media interviews with an inmate are based on political, not penological, interests.
Amicus brief in U.S. v. District Court (Thomas Kontogiannis)

July 18, 2007

Arguing that federal prosecutor's late invocation of the Classified Information Procedures Act cannot overcome the public right of access to transcripts of hearings leading to a criminal plea agreement.
Amicus brief in New Hampshire v. DeCato

June 18, 2007

Arguing that the involuntary commitment proceedings of sexually violent predators must be open to the public.
White Paper: "Confidentiality Complications"

June 13, 2007

How new rules, technologies and corporate practices affect the reporter’s privilege and further demonstrate the need for a federal shield law

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Briefs & Comments

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