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High court finds town meeting not subject to meetings act; photographer's suit over expulsion for leaving designated press corner dismissed

Article Abstract:

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's dismissal in Pine v. McGreavy of claims against the moderator of a town meeting based on his ejection of a photo-journalist. The moderator of the meeting was sued under the state's Open Meetings Act. Both courts found that the town meeting in question was not the type of meeting that Act was designed to ensure public access to. The meeting at issue was in fact open to the public and did not involve a public body meeting to engage in government business.

Local government, Rhode Island

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Court allows closing of safety board meeting

Article Abstract:

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) may hold meetings closed to the public. The court had ruled in a previous case that the board was not exempt from the Freedom of Information Act or the Sunshine Act. In Natural Resources Defense Council v. DNFSB, however, the court stated the board could consider recommendations to the Department of Energy in closed meetings as long as it met disclosure regulations following such meetings.

Powers and duties, United States. Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

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Tennessee A.G. reverses own opinion on cameras

Article Abstract:

Tennessee Attorney General Charles Burson has revised an Oct 1995 opinion that found that city councils could ban video cameras from their meetings and has stated that camera bans would violate the state constitution and Open Meetings Act. Burson had analogized board meetings to court proceedings in finding no First Amendment right of access. News organization protests of the original ruling relied on the strength of free expression protections in the Tennessee Constitution.

Tennessee, City councils

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