Press coalition to courts: Don’t walk back pandemic-era access
CTK/Josef Horazny via AP
Our court system should be open to the public and not operate behind closed doors.
The First Amendment gives the public and the press the right to attend trials, access court documents, and report on the justice system. But far too often, judges try to evade that right by sealing records or holding secret proceedings.
We must fight back against attempts to make the court system less transparent and push to expand access. Reporting on the courts helps make our justice system fairer and guards against miscarriages of justice.
Featured Items
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FPF discusses threats to the free press on radio talk show
WBEZ interview highlights legislative, economic, and cultural headwinds that threaten the Fourth Estate
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Report highlights need for journalists to push back when stonewalled
News readers need to know when the government withholds information from them
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NJ court to journalist on publication of official’s address: Do you feel lucky, punk?
Decision empowers state officials to try to stop reporting they dislike
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SCOTUS needs to hold officials who ignore press freedom accountable
Texas citizen journalist’s case is an opportunity to push back against criminalization of routine newsgathering
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State lawmakers shut the shades during Sunshine Week
During a week celebrating government openness, three states — New Jersey, Colorado, and California — considered or enacted anti-transparency laws
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‘Classified information’ isn’t a magic formula to suspend the First Amendment
The Supreme Court seems to understand the First Amendment limits on government coercion of speech — except when it comes to national security
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Sunshine Week brings focus to public record lawsuits
U.S. Press Freedom Tracker highlights costs of government secrecy to taxpayers
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Journalists must be able to cover America’s incarcerated
Legal brief challenges secrecy around injuries and deaths in San Diego County jails
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Supreme Court social media cases could put some First Amendment claims in the firing line
Oral arguments in the NetChoice cases hint at outcomes that could uphold key free press precedents but still seriously impact certain First Amendment lawsuits
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LA’s lawsuit against journalist Ben Camacho is an unconstitutional mess
It was bad enough when the city sought an unlawful prior restraint against Camacho. Now it’s going even further
