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Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
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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.

News

Format: 2013-05-06
Format: 2013-05-06
W. Va. high court to rule on withholding of police report requested by newspaper
February 22, 1994
W. Va. high court to rule on withholding of police report requested by newspaper 02/22/1994 WEST VIRGINIA -- The state Supreme Court agreed in late January to decide whether the Williamstown police improperly withheld from the Parkersburg News a police report concerning a fight between two high school students. Reportedly, one brandished a gun and the other a baseball bat.
Supreme Court allows RICO suit against protesters, raises free speech concerns
February 8, 1994
Supreme Court allows RICO suit against protesters, raises free speech concerns 02/08/1994 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way in late January for racketeering sanctions against anti-abortion protesters, but the unanimous ruling raises questions about whether similar suits could be used to chill protected speech. The high court decided the narrow question of whether the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute required proof of an economic motive.
Appeals court refuses to reconsider ruling; Ohio reporter remains in jail
February 8, 1994
Appeals court refuses to reconsider ruling; Ohio reporter remains in jail 02/08/1994 OHIO -- Lisa Abraham, a reporter imprisoned in mid-January for refusing to testify before a grand jury, remained in jail in early February as a state trial judge and appeals court refused to reconsider their rulings.
Journalist, SPJ official testify against bill that would close access to drivers records
February 8, 1994
Journalist, SPJ official testify against bill that would close access to drivers records 02/08/1994 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Speaking for a coalition of media interest groups, Lucy Dalglish and Richard Oppel testified against nationwide restrictions on department of motor vehicle records in early February before the House Judiciary's Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Louisiana court allows reporter's privilege for author of book about slaying
February 8, 1994
Louisiana court allows reporter's privilege for author of book about slaying 02/08/1994 LOUISIANA -- A book author may assert a qualified reporter's privilege under the First Amendment and the Louisiana Constitution, a state appeals court in Gretna ruled in late January. Joseph Bosco, the author of Blood Will Tell, a recently published book about a killing, has refused to testify at a hearing for a new trial sought by William Fontanille, who was convicted of manslaughter in the case.
State judge bars cameras from senator's trial
February 8, 1994
State judge bars cameras from senator's trial 02/08/1994 TEXAS -- A state trial court judge barred television and still cameras in the courtroom for the February 7 trial of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) in Fort Worth. Hutchison is charged with one misdemeanor and four felony counts of misusing state employees and equipment during her tenure as state treasurer. She is also charged with tampering with government records and evidence. Hutchinson has denied the charges.
Federal judge lifts gag order that barred parties to suit from talking to media
February 8, 1994
Federal judge lifts gag order that barred parties to suit from talking to media 02/08/1994 SOUTH CAROLINA -- A federal district judge in Charleston lifted a four-day-old gag order in late January that he had placed on the parties in a lawsuit filed by pregnant women who were tested for drug use by the Medical University of South Carolina.
Phone calls between commissioners did not violate sunshine act
February 8, 1994
Phone calls between commissioners did not violate sunshine act 02/08/1994 KANSAS -- Telephone calls between Seward County commissioners to discuss public business did not violate the Kansas Open Meetings Act because they were not "meetings," the state Supreme Court ruled in mid-January. The high court said that there is no common- law right of the public or press to attend meetings of governmental bodies. Any such right is created by the open meetings statute only.
Alabama high court requires notice of meetings even though law is silent
February 8, 1994
Alabama high court requires notice of meetings even though law is silent 02/08/1994 ALABAMA -- The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in mid-January that there is an implied notice requirement for meetings, although the Sunshine Law contains no language expressly requiring notice. The public must be aware of a meeting in order for that meeting to be open to the public, the court said.
City must release job applications, high court rules
February 8, 1994
City must release job applications, high court rules 02/08/1994 CONNECTICUT -- The city of Hartford must give the Hartford Courant copies of applications it reviewed in promoting 13 current and former Public Works Department employees, the state's Supreme Court ruled in mid-January.
Ohio reporter jailed for refusing to testify before grand jury
January 25, 1994
Ohio reporter jailed for refusing to testify before grand jury 01/25/1994 OHIO -- In mid-January a state judge in Warren jailed a reporter who refused to testify before a grand jury investigating a county official she had interviewed.
California puts statutes, legislative information on the Internet
January 25, 1994
California puts statutes, legislative information on the Internet 01/25/1994 CALIFORNIA -- All California state statutes, the constitution and current legislative information is now available in electronic form through the Internet, a network of computer networks.
Court opens post-trial questioning of jurors
January 25, 1994
Court opens post-trial questioning of jurors 01/25/1994 PENNSYLVANIA -- Post-trial questioning of jurors about allegations of juror misbehavior should be open to the press and the public, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia (3rd Cir.) ruled in early January. Robert Simone was convicted of racketeering and extortion in December 1992 in federal court in Philadelphia.
Judge sets aside $7.5 million award
January 25, 1994
Judge sets aside $7.5 million award 01/25/1994 CALIFORNIA -- In mid-January a state trial judge in Los Angeles set aside a $7.5 million jury award won by a businessman in a libel suit against the Santa Barbara News-Press and its owner, the New York Times Co. The judge ordered a new trial upon finding that the jury's verdict was factually inconsistent and excessive, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Justice Department to solicit views on new model FOIA regulations
January 25, 1994
Justice Department to solicit views on new model FOIA regulations 01/25/1994 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Dan Metcalfe and Richard Huff, co-directors of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy, in late January told about 30 representatives of several public interest groups that their office will solicit the views of FOI Act users over the next several months as it develops model FOI regulations.