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Full-Text Articles in Law

Recognizing A Constitutional Right Of Media Access To Evidentiary Recordings In Criminal Trials, Teri G. Rasmussen Oct 1983

Recognizing A Constitutional Right Of Media Access To Evidentiary Recordings In Criminal Trials, Teri G. Rasmussen

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note advocates recognition of a constitutional right of press access to evidentiary recordings in criminal trials. It proposes methods for accommodating the competing rights of the news media to have access to evidentiary recordings used in criminal trials and the right of criminal defendants to a fair trial. Part I examines the source of controversy and sets forth the limitations inherent in the current common law presumption of press access to judicial records. Part II disusses the underlying values that require recognition of the constitutional right and suggests that such a right can be accommodated with a defendant's right …


The Doctrine Of Prior Restraint Since The Pentagon Papers, James L. Oakes Apr 1982

The Doctrine Of Prior Restraint Since The Pentagon Papers, James L. Oakes

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The purpose of this speech is to examine how the doctrine against prior restraint has evolved since the Pentagon Papers case. I intend to demonstrate that while traditional antipathy to prior restraint has for the most part remained strong, several recent cases foreshadow a dangerous expansion of well-established exceptions to the doctrine. To understand fully the significance of these recent cases, I will begin this lecture with a general discussion of the historical origins of the doctrine against prior restraint. I will then proceed with a critical overview of the landmark Pentagon Papers case, more formally called New York Times …


The Public Broadcasting Act: The Licensee Editorializing Ban And The First Amendment, John C. Grabow Apr 1980

The Public Broadcasting Act: The Licensee Editorializing Ban And The First Amendment, John C. Grabow

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article contends that the public is deprived of an important source of information on public affairs issues as a result of the section 399(a) prohibition on editorializing. After an examination of the legislative history of Section 399(a), and the heritage of broadcast regulation in the United States, the article concludes that the prohibition on editorializing is an improper restriction on free expression in violation of the First Amendment.


Regulation Of Indecency In Political Broadcasting, Jonathan Golomb Oct 1979

Regulation Of Indecency In Political Broadcasting, Jonathan Golomb

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The article considers both the constitutional and statutory aspects of the regulation of indecency in political broadcasting. The discussion is limited to considering "indecency," a term excluding obscenity or incitement to violence, because the government's power to regulate these types of speech is well established. Indecent speech would be protected if used in the print media, since it does not fall within the established First Amendment exceptions. The basic constitutional question, therefore, is whether the broadcast media are inherently different from the print media, so as to justify different treatment of indecent political speech. This article will contend that they …


Political Broadcasting After The Aspen Ruling: Legislative Reform Of Section 315(A) Of The Communications Act Of 1934, Stuart N. Brotman Oct 1979

Political Broadcasting After The Aspen Ruling: Legislative Reform Of Section 315(A) Of The Communications Act Of 1934, Stuart N. Brotman

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The FCC's new interpretation of section 315(a) in the Aspen ruling greatly reduced its inhibitory effect on broadcasters. The ruling, however, has created further interpretive problems regarding the broadcast debate format, and has not completely resolved the more general problem of giving the electorate greater and more direct exposure to candidates during campaigns through programming that forces candidates to confront each other on the major issues. This article will discuss the. background of section 315(a), then explain each of its exemptions. Finally, it will propose possible reforms in the area of political broadcasting in light of the Aspen ruling.


The Power Of The Fcc To Regulate Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership: The Need For Congressional Clarification, Michigan Law Review Aug 1977

The Power Of The Fcc To Regulate Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership: The Need For Congressional Clarification, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The controversy surrounding the FCC's Second Report and . Order, its appeal, and the subsequent decision in NCCB raises basic questions concerning the statutory authority of the FCC to promulgate rules concerning newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership. This Note suggests that the FCC, notwithstanding judicial affirmation in NCCB of the Commission's authority to adopt such rules, might well be exercising more authority than Congress intended it to possess under the Communications Act of 1934. This Note therefore concludes that, irrespective of the merits of the Second Report and Order, Congress should reexamine and clarify the scope of the FCC's power in this regard.


Freedom Of The Press And Public Access: Toward A Theory Of Partial Regulation Of The Mass Media, Lee C. Bollinger Jr. Jan 1976

Freedom Of The Press And Public Access: Toward A Theory Of Partial Regulation Of The Mass Media, Lee C. Bollinger Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this article is to examine critically these decisions and to explore whether there is any rational basis for limiting to one sector of the media the legislature's power to impose access regulation. The article takes the position that the Court has pursued the right path for the wrong reasons. There is a powerful rationality underlying the current decision to restrict regulatory authority to broadcasting, but it is not, as is commonly supposed, that broadcasting is somehow different in principle from the print media and that it therefore is not deserving of equivalent first amendment treatment. As will …


Public Broadcasting And The Problem Of Government Influence: Towards A Legislative Solution, Oscar G. Chase Jan 1975

Public Broadcasting And The Problem Of Government Influence: Towards A Legislative Solution, Oscar G. Chase

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article will explore the problems raised by the emergence of the federal government as a television "sponsor." It will argue that fundamental structural reform is needed to promote the constitutional values at issue, that such reform will also promote the interests of local control sought by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, and that legislative action in furtherance of this structural solution is desirable. In this context this article will consider the proposed Public Broadcasting Financing Act of 1974 and will argue that any bill modeled on it would not eliminate the problems despite its salutary innovations. Not considered, …


Reaffirming The Freedom Of The Press: Another Look At Miami Herald Publishing Co. V. Tornillo, Michigan Law Review Nov 1974

Reaffirming The Freedom Of The Press: Another Look At Miami Herald Publishing Co. V. Tornillo, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This note does not take issue with the result of the decision. Rather, the argument herein is that the access theory deserves more complete consideration. The Court used first amendment precedents to strike down the reply statute without exploring whether the rationale behind these precedents mandated such a result. In an effort to justify more fully the Court's conclusion, this note will first present the underlying rationale of the pro-access argument. It will then analyze the constitutionality of statutes that would implement a right of access. Finally, the note will discuss several practical difficulties that access legislation would present.


The Expanding Constitutional Protection For The News Media From Liability For Defamation: Predictability And The New Synthesis, Michigan Law Review Aug 1972

The Expanding Constitutional Protection For The News Media From Liability For Defamation: Predictability And The New Synthesis, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The tort of defamation has a long and complex history dating back to the sixteenth century. Though this tort from the very beginning did not find favor with the law courts, it has managed to survive into the second half of the twentieth century. But this survival may not endure much longer since the Supreme Court has found a deep conflict between the law of defamation and the first amendment. The reasons for this conflict and the Supreme Court's basic resolution of it in favor of first amendment values have been the subject of much scholarly comment, but the Court's …


Broadcasting, The Reluctant Dragon: Will The First Amendment Right Of Access End The Suppressing Of Controversial Ideas?, Donald M. Malone Jan 1972

Broadcasting, The Reluctant Dragon: Will The First Amendment Right Of Access End The Suppressing Of Controversial Ideas?, Donald M. Malone

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The scope of this article will be limited to one aspect of electronic media programming-the extent to which the public is and should be exposed to an accurate cross section of public opinion and a broad range of controversial ideas. Many people, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), have acknowledged that a desirable goal for the broadcast media, particularly television, is to provide a marketplace for controversial ideas. Part II of this article will identify the principal reasons why that goal has not been achieved. Part III will examine the fairness doctrine, the antecedents of which have been traced back …


Drug Songs And The Federal Communications Commission, Sammuel Bufford Jan 1972

Drug Songs And The Federal Communications Commission, Sammuel Bufford

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

A "public notice" concerning the broadcasting of drug-related popular songs by radio stations issued from the Federal Communications Commission on March 5, 1971. While this notice could be generally taken to prohibit the playing of such songs, its actual message, upon further analysis, is more complex and less direct. This article will examine the notice to ascertain its likely meaning, determine its legal status, and examine three constitutional issues it raises: whether the songs are protected as speech under the first amendment; whether the statement of the prohibition (if that be the import of the notice) is sufficiently precise to …


The News And The Accused, Lawrence W. Schad Dec 1969

The News And The Accused, Lawrence W. Schad

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The author believes that the Reardon Standards, if implemented, would provide an effective solution to the problem of prejudicial information, and that this potential can be best realized through adoption and enforcement of the Standards by the courts. This conclusion is based upon analysis of the following issues: (1) The nature of the problem, including an examination of (a) the nature of prejudicial information, (b) those who create the problem either by initially releasing or subsequently disseminating such information, and (c) the related effect of courtroom procedure upon the impact of such information. An analysis of these issues suggests …


Friendly & Goldfarb: Crime An Publicity: The Impact Of News On The Administration Of Justice, Francis C. Sullivan Mar 1968

Friendly & Goldfarb: Crime An Publicity: The Impact Of News On The Administration Of Justice, Francis C. Sullivan

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Crime and Publicity: The Impact of News on the Administration of Justice by Alfred Friendly and Ronald L. Goldfarb


Advisory Committee On Fair Trial And Free Press: American Bar Association Project On Minimum Standards For Criminal Justice: Standards Relating To Fair Trial And Free Press (Tentative Draft), George Edwards, Robert M. Cipes Jan 1968

Advisory Committee On Fair Trial And Free Press: American Bar Association Project On Minimum Standards For Criminal Justice: Standards Relating To Fair Trial And Free Press (Tentative Draft), George Edwards, Robert M. Cipes

Michigan Law Review

A Review of American Bar Association Project on Minimum Standards for Criminal Justice: Standards Relating to Fair Trial and Free Press (Tentative Draft) Recommended by the Advisory Committee on Fair Trial and Free Press


Constitutional Law-Freedom Of The Press-Right Of News Media Personnel To Refuse To Disclose Confidenial Sources Of Information, Francis X. Beytagh Jr., S.Ed Nov 1962

Constitutional Law-Freedom Of The Press-Right Of News Media Personnel To Refuse To Disclose Confidenial Sources Of Information, Francis X. Beytagh Jr., S.Ed

Michigan Law Review

A former personnel director of a local Civil Service Commission instituted an action for reinstatement to that position, alleging that her recent ouster was illegal. In preparing for trial, defendant commission members took the deposition of a reporter for a local newspaper. Appellant reporter stated on direct examination that his suspicions regarding a contemplated attempt to fire plaintiff were in part based on certain information received from a confidential source. On pre-trial cross-examination appellant refused to disclose the source of this information, and plaintiff obtained a court order directing him to do so. On interlocutory appeal, held, order affirmed, …


Freedom Of Speech And Of The Press In War Time The Espionage Act, Thomas F. Carroll Jun 1919

Freedom Of Speech And Of The Press In War Time The Espionage Act, Thomas F. Carroll

Michigan Law Review

The Imperial German Government had never made a secret of its willingness to encourage disloyalty among the citizens and subjects of Germany's enemies. It had officially announced: "Bribery of enemies' subjects, acceptance of offers of treachery, utilization of discontented elements in the population, support of pretenders and the like are permissible; indeed, international law is in no way opposed to the exploitation of the crimes of third parties."'