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April 2007 - Posts

Monday, April 30, 2007 3:32 PM

Federal Shield law to be introduced Wednesday

The official name is the Free Flow of Information Act. It will be introduced at 1 p.m. EST Wednesday at a Captiol Press Conference. A press release applauding both Houses of Congress for their efforts are forthcoming. I look forward to the press
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, April 27, 2007 3:15 PM

Gov. to sign Washington shield law

They did it in Washington state. The governor is expected to sign today a bill that would protect reporters notes and interviews. The SPJ chapters in Washington supporte the bill and worked for its passage. Good work Washington! Update: Nathan Isaacs
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, April 27, 2007 11:44 AM

Josh Wolf speaks to Web site

The recipient of the largest grant in Legal Defense Fund history as well as the journalist who holds the longest time spent in prison protecting sources, gave an interview to a Web  site called Infoshop News. He talks about a range of things.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, April 26, 2007 7:37 PM

Fired reporter files suit against former paper

In Tennessee, a newspaper reporter named Gary Butler is suing his former newspaper the Newport Plain Talk, saying he lost his job because he was too agressive reporting on a local mayor. The paper disputes that claim.   The case is in federal
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, April 26, 2007 2:40 PM

The world will be watching

The cameras in the courtroom issue will be in the national spot light as Court TV broadcasts the Phil Spector trial. What happens and the behavior of the folks and the preception in the lgal community, the strongest opponent of camera in
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, April 23, 2007 1:02 PM

Removing court info from the web in Florida

LDF committee member Julie Kay wrote this about secret plea agreements in the South Florida federal courts.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, April 23, 2007 12:35 PM

Things going from bad to worse in Santa Barbara

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on former editor Jerry Roberts' press conference in response to a page 1 story in the Santa Barbara Press-News.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 11:26 AM

Seeking sources: Hatfill case heats up

Subpoenas could be looming for reporters who have been covering the Steven Hatfill case. The New York Sun reports that the identies of confidential sources might be critical to the scientist's case. The story includes comment from SDX board member and
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 1:58 PM

Texas judge throws out libel case against New York Times

This is the spot where we try to provide updates on what's going on nationally in court cases involving journalism and journalists. Check here for regular updates. Today, we tell you about a Texas judge who threw out a libel case against the New York
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, April 16, 2007 7:21 PM

Raising LDF bucks in Detroit

I spent the weekend at the Region 4 conference in Detroit. It was a terrific conference. About 175 people signed up and a full slate of sponsors helped defray the costs for the journalists who attneded the day and a half of programs. Jeremy
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 1:36 PM

Connecticut judge to allow cameras in courtroom

Cameras in court rooms is gaining some traction in some places. A Connecticut judge is going to allow it in a high profile case. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, has a bill that would open more federal courts to cameras and  Minnesota journalists
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Monday, April 09, 2007 11:44 AM

SPJ board enacts LDF application information-sharing policy

The SPJ national board met in a conference all Saturday and approved a number of policies and procedures. Much of it is stuff that already is being done but had not been formalized. One that affects the LDF committee and this blog is the policy on when
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Monday, April 09, 2007 11:36 AM

Minnesota Web site looks at Wolf

The Web site Minnesota Monitor takes a peek at the Josh Wolf and Mankato Free Press situations and takes on the debate of just who is a journalist. SDX board and Minnesota Pro Chapter board meber Jane Kirtley and secretary/treasurer and Legal
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Wednesday, April 04, 2007 5:05 PM

WSJ: Why were reporters subpoenaed?

It's been a while since Judith Miller and a number of other reporters were subpoenaed to testify in the CIA leak case. The time and the recent news about Josh Wolf make it easy to forget. Some have not forgotten.  The Wall Street Journal asks a good
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:37 PM

Josh Wolf: Free at last

Freelancer Josh Wolf is being released from jail after he provided prosecutors (and the public) with video tape that was at the center of the legal battle. Wolf, however, reached an agreement with prosecutors so that he will not be required to testify
posted by NeilRalston | 1 Comments
Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:39 AM

Josh Wolf is still sitting in jail

The travesty of the Josh Wolf situation continues. He long ago set the record for longest time spent in jail by a journalist. As the San Bernadino paper reports, Wolf is well past 200 days. Word from the halls of the nation's capitol is that the lobbyists
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, April 02, 2007 2:14 PM

Petition circulated urging release of Afghan journalist

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is issuing a letter urging  for the release of Ajmal Nakshbandi, an Afghan journalist being held  by the Taliban.  You can sign on line via LightStalkers here: http://www.lightstalkers.org/letter_for_ajmal
posted by MikeKnaak | 2 Comments