freedom of the press

Feb 7, 2023

Media reps, prosecutor split on how airing testimony should be banned

Media reps and a prosecutor disagreed on the Maryland Judiciary’s effort to let recordings of criminal trials be aired while respecting the witnesses’ safety and dignity.

Sep 17, 2021

NPR wins preliminary challenge to Md.’s broadcast ban on criminal trials

National Public Radio Inc. has won a preliminary but significant legal victory in its bid to air audio from the July trial of the man who murdered five Capital Gazette employees on June 28, 2018, despite Maryland’s statutory prohibition on the broadcasting of official court recordings of criminal proceedings. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett […]

Sep 9, 2021

NPR challenges Md.’s broadcast ban on criminal trial recordings

National Public Radio Inc. has become the latest news organization to challenge Maryland’s statutory ban on broadcasting official court recordings of criminal proceedings, saying the prohibition violates NPR’s constitutional right to air audio from the July trial of the man who murdered five Capital Gazette employees on June 28, 2018. In a federal court filing […]

Jun 28, 2021

Can employers mandate vaccinations?

Welcome to Monday, the third anniversary of the slaying of five employees of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis. The lives of Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters are honored annually on June 28, Freedom of the Press Day in Maryland. Here are some news items to get your week started. […]

Jun 16, 2021

4th Circuit revives challenge to Maryland broadcast ban on criminal trial recordings

A federal appeals court has revived a freedom of the press challenge to Maryland’s statutory ban on the broadcasting of official court recordings of criminal proceedings.

Sep 16, 2020

Salisbury man will pay $100K damages for journalist’s tweet-induced seizure

A Salisbury supporter of Donald Trump has agreed to pay $100,000 to a journalist and outspoken critic of the president to whom the backer sent a tweet containing a message intended to cause him to suffer a severe epileptic seizure, which he did.

Jun 1, 2020

Do prisoners have equal protection from COVID-19?

Welcome to Monday, the 217th anniversary of mortally wounded Navy Capt. John Lawrence’s  last command on the U.S.S Chesapeake: “Don’t give up the ship.” Here are some news items to get your week started. — Is the federal government playing favorites in its COVID-19-related prison releases? — Texas city adopts cite and release for non-violent […]

Dec 9, 2019

4th Circuit strikes down Md. law, says it violates freedoms of speech, press

The Maryland General Assembly has violated the First Amendment in its zeal to prevent foreign interference in state and local elections, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down as violating the freedoms of speech and press a 2018 law that would have required news outlets accepting political […]

Oct 22, 2018

We’re not talking about the Pentagon papers

School seeks to block publication leads news items including quadruple-murder trial, $2.5 million landlord-tenant settlement and justices file a petition.

Nov 30, 2017

Judge upholds confidentiality clause in Baltimore police brutality cases

Baltimore’s practice of barring alleged victims in police brutality cases from disparaging officers as a condition of settlement agreements does not violate the accusers’ constitutional free-speech rights so long as they knowingly and voluntarily signed the accords, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis ruled, the confidentiality clause in brutality [&[...]

Nov 16, 2017

Attorney questions confidentiality clauses in Baltimore police brutality cases

Baltimore’s practice of barring alleged victims in police brutality cases from disparaging officers as a condition of settlement agreements violates the accusers’ free-speech rights and the freedom-of-the-press rights of news organizations trying to report on police activities, a civil rights attorney told an outwardly skeptical federal judge Thursday. “The ‘gag’ provision (in settlement[...]

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