SPRING FUNDRAISER
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2017 ANNUAL REVIEW |
Secrecy. Censorship. Speech Restrictions. These are what stand in the way of the First Amendment and the public's right to know. Too often the scale tips in favor of these interests. The New England First Amendment Coalition is here to minimize their effects on your freedom. Our coalition serves as a counterweight by providing: Education. Advocacy. Defense.
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FEATURED SPEAKER PROGRAM
NEFAC recently presented to high school students at the MET High School in Providence, R.I., and to local residents at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Mass.,
as part of the coalition's Featured Speaker Program. The program launched in January and is an educational initiative bringing First Amendment and journalism experts to the region's college campuses, high school classrooms and local community centers.
Learn more about our Featured Speaker Program here.
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RHODE ISLAND
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MAY 9 BRIEF
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The New England First Amendment Coalition and several press advocates submitted an amicus brief in Rhode Island Superior Court contesting recent orders to keep secret a juror list and to bar contact with the jurors in a completed, high-profile murder case. "We have a First Amendment right to know who is sitting on our juries and to ask them about their experiences," said Justin Silverman, NEFAC's executive director.
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APRIL 30 LETTER
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NEFAC expressed "grave concerns" about a Rhode Island judge's order permanently banning reporters from speaking to jurors after a high-profile murder trial, calling the order overbroad and unconstitutional. Superior Court Judge Netti C. Vogel concluded a trial in March by directing all members of the public, including journalists, to refrain from contacting any of the jurors in the case. [...]
Additional NEFAC Commentary
Karen Bordeleau, president of the New England First Amendment Coalition and a former executive editor of The Providence Journal, discusses the lawsuit on Rhode Island NPR. Bordeleau said the order barring access to the jury was not normal procedure for the court.
Tim White, a member of NEFAC's Board of Directors, discusses on WPRO the order that banned members of the public from speaking to jurors in a completed criminal trial. White addressed the First Amendment implications of the order.
Additional Coverage
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
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MAY 1 ORDER
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After considering arguments made by the New England First Amendment Coalition, a New Hampshire court unsealed judicial records in a case involving Nathan Carman, a Vermont resident being investigated for the murder of his wealthy grandfather and the disappearance of his mother. The court originally ordered all documents in the case to be sealed. [...]
Additional Coverage
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RHODE ISLAND
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MAY 18 BRIEF
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The New England First Amendment Coalition and several other open government advocates submitted an amicus brief today arguing for the release of grand jury records in the 38 Studios proceedings. "There is an overwhelming public interest in disclosure of the 38 Studios grand jury records," the groups argued. "It is an exceptional case involving failures at every level of state government."
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BLOG - EDWARD FITZPATRICK
Well, you don't have to be the dean of a journalism school to realize that while there's obviously danger in intentionally false information and increasingly partisan media, there's also danger in Sinclair demanding that local anchors echo the president's press critique just as it seeks government approval for a $3.9 billion deal to buy Tribune Media. Keep in mind that Sinclair is the nation's largest owner of local television stations, with 173 stations in 81 broadcast markets.
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OTHER FOI AND FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS
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REGIONAL / NATIONAL
Trump, Twitter, Public Forums
Trump Administration, Press Relations
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Sandy Hook, Defamation
Protest, Free Speech
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Open Meeting Law
Public Art, First Amendment
Immigration Records
License Plates, Free Speech
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Nathan Carman, Public Records
Driver Privacy Law
Public Universities, Free Speech
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Juror Contact Ban
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Hate Speech, First Amendment
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