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Laws barring witnesses, jurors from selling stories ruled unconstitutional

Article Abstract:

A US District Court in San Francisco ruled in California First Amendment Coalition v. Lungren that a California statute limiting witnesses and jurors from receiving compensation for a period of time surrounding a criminal case was unconstitutional. The plaintiffs argued that the law was a content-based restriction on speech that was not narrowly tailored and was not in furtherance of a compelling government interest. The court rejected the state's argument that placing a financial restriction on jurors and witnesses was not a content-based restriction.

United States, Laws, regulations and rules, California, Witnesses, Jury members

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'Notice of claim' not subject to exemption

Article Abstract:

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in St Peter Herald v. St Peter that a private attorney's letter to a government agency did not come under the litigation exception to state law's mandating disclosure of official records. The court ruled this exception referred only to records assembled by an agency, not unsolicited items. While agreeing that confidentiality might aid settlement, the court ruled the specific language of the Minnesota Data Practices Act limited administrative discretion in decisions to release government information.

Access control, Government information

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Cameraman arrested for videotaping jurors

Article Abstract:

Missouri reporter Steven Strauss was arrested for disobeying a judicial order restricting press coverage of a murder trial. Strauss was restricted from entering county property as a condition of his release. He convinced an appellate court, however, that this condition interfered with his ability to do his job and that the judge had overstepped her authority by ordering it.

Television broadcasting of news, Television news

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