Newsgathering
Supreme Court Vacates and Remands Fifth Circuit Decision in Case Involving Retaliatory Arrest
Emily HockettThis summary decision, taken together with the Supreme Court’s per curiam decision in Gonzalez, suggest that retaliatory arrest claims can be maintained regardless of probable cause if a plaintiff can show objective evidence that officials rarely, if ever, enforce the law at issue in similar circumstances.
Threats to the Media in the Second Trump Term
George FreemanWhile we can also draw on his first term as a guide, the sad truth is that this second administration is likely to be far worse and far more hostile to the press and to First Amendment values: He’s learned from his first four years; he will only have yes-men surrounding him, no experts and…
First Amendment Lawsuit Forces Jail Policy Changes, Prompts National Call to Action
Paula Knudsen BurkeA journalist’s First Amendment lawsuit against a county in western Pennsylvania has resulted in a settlement agreement requiring local officials to revise policies that prevent jail employees from speaking publicly without the warden’s permission.
Media Rallies to Support Citizen Journalist in SCOTUS Qualified Immunity Case
Jeffrey J. PyleMore than thirty journalists and media organizations filed amicus briefs in support of Priscilla Villarreal, a citizen journalist who was arrested for requesting and reporting truthful information from a police officer.
Search Warrant Response Playbook
In the wake of recent law enforcement raids on the Marion County Record and the home of freelance journalist Brian Carmody, the MLRC Criminal Law Committee has put together this guide on how to respond when news clients are served with a search warrant.
Lawsuit Over Alleged CIA Spying on Assange Visitors May Proceed in Part
Matt KristoffersenFour Americans may now proceed with their lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency for allegedly copying data from their devices while visiting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Journalists’ Civil Rights Claims for Abuses During George Floyd and Daunte Wright Protests Can Go to Trial
Isabella Salomão Nascimento, Pari McGarraugh, and Kevin RiachAll told, the Court’s decision is an unqualified victory for Plaintiffs in this case, their fellow journalist colleagues, and the First Amendment writ large.
Federal Court Holds that Incidental Capture of Photos in Background of Documentary Film is Fair Use
Adam Rich and Samuel BayardThis decision will be helpful to documentary filmmakers who incidentally capture copyrighted works while documenting actions and events that are of legitimate public concern.
Iowa Journalist Can Proceed with Suit Against Officer Who Arrested Him, Eighth Circuit Decides
Matt Kristoffersen“Once Officer Holtan was aware Nieters was a member of the press and had no reason to believe Nieters had been within hearing distance of the orders to disperse,” the opinion states, “it certainly was not an ‘objectively reasonable’ mistake to believe probable cause existed for the arrest.”
Fifth Circuit Holds Texas Drone Regulation Law to Be Constitutional
Alicia Wagner CalzadaA recent drone journalism opinion out of the Fifth Circuit could have negative implications for years to come, beyond the issues in the case itself.