First Amendment Coalition

Strategic litigation, education and advocacyfac uses integrated advocacy - litigation, education and policy advocacy - to strategically advance open government, free-press rights, and the public's right to know. Some examples of important fac achievements in 2022: -fac's lawsuit under the California public records act forced the disclosure of previously secret records of police misconduct in the ventura county sheriff's department - part of fac's larger campaign to enforce and strengthen California's sb 1421, a landmark bill that brought long-needed transparency to such records. -partnering with the nonprofit newsroom san jose spotlight, fac's lawsuit under the California public records act forced the disclosure of newsworthy documents relating to the san jose mayor's use of personal communication devices to conduct public business.-fac's subpoena defense initiative came to the aid of journalists, a book author and a documentarian who were subpoenaed for their confidential sources or notes, providing on-the-spot expert counseling and representation, on a pro bono basis, to protect journalists' rights under the First Amendment and California's journalist shield law.-fac's legal advocacy forced the release of previously secret records of a controversial police shooting of a woman in clear mental distress in san diego.-partnering with the nonprofit news outlet knock la, fac successfully unsealed search warrant materials related to the los angeles police department's mistreatment of protestors.-fac led a Coalition whose advocacy resulted in the repeal of a mendocino county ordinance that was charging members of the public as much as $7,000 to obtain public records.-fac's work on amicus briefs throughout 2022, 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 launched a series of webinars titled know your rights, which educated californians 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. -fac responded to nearly 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.

Legal hotline service in 2021, fac responded to nearly 900 questions about accessing public records, participating in government meetings, and First Amendment rights, empowering these individuals to exercise their 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. Fac arranges for counsel for journalists otherwise unable to pay for lawyers. The initiative also includes training seminars for lawyers, teaching them the details of journalist subpoena defense. In 2022, fac provided pro bono counseling and/or representation to four individuals- two journalists, a book author, and a documentary filmmaker.

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.