The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision to temporarily halt the state from enforcing the law, which voters approved in 2023.
first amendment
Posted inLocal & State, News
Right to know advocate gives talk on Maine Freedom of Access Act to public officials in Franklin County
Judith Meyer, former executive editor of the Sun Journal, gave an overview of the law to public officials, residents and others.
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Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Maine has spent millions to digitize court records — and they’re still mostly not online
A recent decision to halt most online access puts into question whether eCourts will truly do what the state judicial branch promised.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Local & State, News
Augusta’s First Amendment Museum to move downtown during Gannett House renovation
The museum, which celebrates the First Amendment, will operate out of a space on Water Street for three years while the former home of Guy Gannett gets an update.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics, Religion and Values
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles in Baton Rouge said the law had an ‘overtly religious’ purpose and is ‘unconstitutional on its face.’
Posted inBusiness, Nation & World, News
TikTok collected U.S. users’ views on abortion, gun control and religion, Justice Department says
Government lawyers wrote in court documents that the sensitive data would up on Chinese servers accessible to ByteDance employees in China.
Posted inNation & World, News
Judge rejects Trump’s First Amendment challenge to indictment in Georgia election case
Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, said in an email that Trump and the other defendants ‘respectfully disagree with Judge McAfee’s order and will continue to evaluate their options regarding the First Amendment challenges.’
Posted inLocal & State
Maine courts shut off online records access over security concerns
The New England First Amendment Coalition says the Maine Judicial Branch should act quickly to resolve the security issue because the public has a right to access such information quickly and conveniently.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Local & State, Maine Crime, News
Agency to fork up nearly $200,000 for shielding public records related to Kennebec County jail
The Maine County Commissioners Association Risk Pool is the first government entity in Maine to be penalized for wrongly withholding documents since the Freedom of Access Act became law in 1959.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Local & State, News, Schools and Education
Free speech or uncivil discourse? Maine association advises tamping down on public comments at school board meetings
The Maine School Management Association has suggested schools adopt policies that prohibit offensive speech and complaints against specific staff or students at board meetings, but First Amendment advocates say it’s a step too far.