NEFAC REPORT | February 2018
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NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT AWARDS


MAYER

Jane Mayer, staff writer for The New Yorker, accepted the New England First Amendment Coalition's Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award on Feb. 23, emphasizing the need to defend journalists from efforts to discredit them and their work. "When President Trump attacks the press these days as the enemies of the American people, those of us who are old enough to have lived through Watergate know that we have seen this play before. As the stain of Watergate spread, President Nixon tried to stigmatize the press and destroy its legitimacy," Mayer said. But she added that "this strategy didn't work for Nixon and it will not work for President Trump."  [...] 
       Additional Coverage
FIRST CIRCUIT


The New England First Amendment Coalition recently filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the public's right to information about jurors in federal courts. "Public access to juror information is a critical part of an open and transparent criminal justice system," argued NEFAC in the Feb. 9 brief. The coalition added that "hindering and delaying access to juror identities is contrary to the democratic norms of transparency and accountability inherent in the American criminal justice system."  [...]

RHODE ISLAND


NEFAC's Justin Silverman and Ed Fitzpatrick join Linda Levin of Access/RI on Rights of a Free People to discuss the First Amendment and open government issues in Rhode Island. The program is sponsored by the ACLU of Rhode Island and featured topics such as state FOI legislation and cameras in the courts.  [...] 


"Jane Doe" is getting her $560 million Powerball prize from the New Hampshire Lottery - and the rest of us might end up paying a huge price when it comes to government transparency. It may not matter how the Superior Court rules on Doe's claim that she is entitled to prevent the Lottery Commission from revealing her real name. Transparency seems likely to suffer a critical blow.  

CONNECTICUT


NEFAC's Dan Klau, a Connecticut-based attorney, discussed the First Amendment, freedom of the press and free speech at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford. Klau was joined by journalist Denis Horgan. The presentation was sponsored by the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government.  [...] 

BLOG - EDWARD FITZPATRICK


The First Amendment needs allies. It needs people like you: Republicans, Democrats and independent Rhode Islanders. It needs people who aren't going to buy the self-serving "Fake News" narrative being spun by President Trump. It needs people who aren't going to applaud when the President of the United States uses his bully pulpit to try to bully the free press.  [...] 

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REGIONAL / NATIONAL

             Trump Administration, First Amendment
            Journalist Protection Act
            Free Speech, Higher Education
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CT
 
            Voter Privacy Protection
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ME

            Gov. LePage, Transparency
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MA
            
            Public Records Law Reform
            Latino Advisory Commission, Open Meeting Law
           Public Employees, Social Media
            Law Enforcement, Social Media Monitoring
NH
 
            Lottery, Right to Privacy
            Video Manipulation, First Amendment
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RI
VT
            
            Attorney General, Transparency
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Major Supporters and Contributors to the 
New England First Amendment Coalition this year include:

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