First Amendment Coalition

DEDICATED TO ADVANCING FREE SPEECH, A FREE PRESS, GOVT. ACCOUNTABILITY & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC AFFAIRS

STRATEGIC LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACYFAC USES INTEGRATED ADVOCACY - LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY - TO ADVANCE OPEN GOVERNMENT, FREE-PRESS RIGHTS, AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW. SOME EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT FAC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023: FAC'S SUBPOENA DEFENSE INITIATIVE CAME TO THE AID OF FIVE JOURNALISTS IN 2023 WHO WERE SUBPOENAED FOR THEIR CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES OR NOTES, PROVIDING ON-THE-SPOT EXPERT COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATION, ON A PRO BONO BASIS, TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND CALIFORNIA'S JOURNALIST SHIELD LAW.-PREVAILED IN OPEN-RECORDS LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF SAN JOSE, FORCING THE DISCLOSURE OF PREVIOUSLY SECRET MESSAGES FROM MAYOR SAM LICCARDO'S PERSONAL EMAIL/TEXT ACCOUNTS.-LED COALITION WHOSE ADVOCACY RESULTED IN THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN THREE CALIFORNIA COUNTIES -- MENDOCINO, SHASTA AND SISKIYOU -- USED TO IMPROPERLY CHARGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO OBTAIN PUBLIC RECORDS.-JOINED COALITIONS TO CHALLENGE EFFORTS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN HUNTINGTON BEACH AND FRESNO COUNTY TO BAN CERTAIN BOOKS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES.-VINDICATED LOCAL JOURNALIST'S RIGHT TO ATTEND OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER SHE WAS IMPROPERLY EXCLUDED BY LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.-FAC'S WORK ON AMICUS BRIEFS THROUGHOUT 2023, AT BOTH THE TRIAL COURT AND APPELLATE LEVEL, HELPED ADVANCE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF FREE EXPRESSION, PRESS FREEDOMS AND OPEN GOVERNMENT.-FAC WORKED IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND AT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO ADVANCE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT AND OPEN-GOVERNMENT RIGHTS, AND TO FIGHT LAWS THAT WOULD WEAKEN THOSE RIGHTS.-SOME EXAMPLES OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THE PUBLIC TO USE THEIR RIGHTS: -FAC CONTINUED ITS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SERIES OF WEBINARS, EDUCATING PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ON HOW TO USE PUBLIC RECORDS TO EXPOSE INJUSTICE, THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROTEST INJUSTICES, AND THE BROWN ACT (CALIFORNIA'S OPEN MEETINGS LAW) TO PREVENT INJUSTICES. -TRAINED INAUGURAL COHORT OF CALIFORNIA LOCAL NEWS FELLOWS ON COVERING OPEN MEETINGS AND USING PUBLIC RECORDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY JOURNALISM.-MENTORED EARLY CAREER JOURNALISTS AS PART OF NATIONAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COALITION'S FOI BOOT CAMP FOR JOURNALISTS OF COLOR.-FAC RESPONDED TO 900 QUERIES ON ITS FREE LEGAL HOTLINE, EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS TO USE THEIR RIGHTS TO SPEAK AND PUBLISH FREELY, AND TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.-FAC HOSTED AND/OR ORGANIZED NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS ON PRESS FREEDOMS AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY LAWS.-UPDATED AND EXPANDED OUR EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF PUBLISHED RESOURCES, INCLUDING OUR GUIDE TO THE BROWN ACT, CALIFORNIA'S OPEN-MEETINGS LAW.

LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHTFAC WORKS WITH ALLIES TO ADVOCATE FOR BILLS IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD EXPAND THE RIGHT OF PUBLIC ACCESS OR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND TO OPPOSE BILLS THAT WOULD LIMIT THESE RIGHTS.

SUBPOENA DEFENSE INITIATIVEFAC'S SUBPOENA DEFENSE INITIATIVE HELPS JOURNALISTS OPPOSE SUBPOENAS SEEKING THEIR CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES AND NOTES PROTECTED UNDER CALIFORNIA'S JOURNALIST SHIELD LAW.

LEGAL HOTLINE SERVICE IN 2023, FAC RESPONDED TO 900 QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSING PUBLIC RECORDS, PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, AND FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, EMPOWERING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS.