News
Public Perception of the Judiciary Bolsters the First Amendment’s Right of Access
As public perception of the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary comes under increased partisan attack, it has become abundantly clear that public faith is integral to the judiciary’s very functioning.
Are Unpublished Opinions Inconsistent with the Right of Access?
By the end of their first week in law school, law students have all learned at least one thing: the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”) are very important.
"Standing" Up for First Amendment Rights
On March 26, 2018, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review (FISCR) issued an opinion holding that MFIA and the ACLU have standing to pursue their First Amendment right of access motion for judicial opinions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).
A Possible Alternative to Secretive DNA Analysis
In October, MFIA worked with ProPublica to lift a protective order on the source code for the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s (OCME) “Forensic Statistical Tool” (FST).
When Silence Isn’t Golden: How Gag Orders Can Evade First Amendment Protections
Trials must be conducted at law, rather than in the press, and courts sometimes feel the need to assert control of the outflow of information around judicial matters to preserve the fair trial rights of litigants.