Gene Policinski: ‘When’ and ‘why’ we need to hear 911 calls

Opinion from The Californian: The word “restraint” and the First Amendment usually exist in uneasy tension.

The 45 words of the First Amendment don’t include it. The Pentagon Papers case in 1971 settled the issue of “prior restraint” by the government on what the press may publish: Nothing doing.

More

Maine Supreme Court ordered to release 911 transcripts in Biddeford murder case

From Portland Press Herald: (Nov. 14, 2013) The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled unanimously in favor of the Portland Press Herald’s appeal requesting authorities to release transcripts of 911 calls in a Biddeford murder case, opening the door on whether other 911 recordings are public record.

More

NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for October 18, 2013

From NFOIC:  A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

More

Conn. FOI commission to consider recommendation to release 911 tapes from Sandy Hook shooting

From The Republic: HARTFORD, Connecticut — Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission is meeting this week to consider whether recordings of 911 calls from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting should be made public.

An attorney for the commission who heard a challenge from The Associated Press recommended earlier this month that the recordings be released.

Visit The Republic for more.

======

 

More

Legal dispute over public access to 911 calls reaches Maine’s highest court

From Bangor Daily News: PORTLAND, Maine — Attorneys on opposite sides of a legal dispute over public access to 911 call transcripts suggested Monday that dangerous precedents could be set if their sides did not prevail.

More

NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for September 6, 2013

From NFOIC:  A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

Sunshine Law proponents sue city of Groveland

More

Newtown officials ordered to provide 911 calls to public records panel for review

From Washington Post:  A state Freedom of Information commission on Monday ordered Newtown officials to provide it with 911 calls from the day of the shooting inside Sandy Hook Elementary School as it considers an appeal for their release by The Associated Press.

More