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When Open Government And Academic Freedom Collide, Jonathan Peters
When Open Government And Academic Freedom Collide, Jonathan Peters
Jonathan Peters
Uneasy is the balance between open government and academic freedom. Scholars have argued that using public records laws to obtain their emails is a form of harassment and intimidation. Nonprofits and political parties have argued that the public has a right to know that scholars are following university rules and properly using public resources. Against that backdrop, we have explored whether public records laws apply to faculty members and whether an exemption in those laws for academic freedom would be conceptually sound and consistent with other exemptions for communications and work product.
“People Who Aren’T Really Reporters At All, Who Have No Professional Qualifications”: Defining A Journalist And Deciding Who May Claim The Privileges, Jonathan Peters
“People Who Aren’T Really Reporters At All, Who Have No Professional Qualifications”: Defining A Journalist And Deciding Who May Claim The Privileges, Jonathan Peters
Jonathan Peters
In July, a federal appeals court ruled that a New York Times reporter must testify in the criminal trial of a former CIA officer accused of improperly disclosing classified information. In May, the DOJ confirmed it had obtained months of phone records of AP reporters and a “portfolio of information” about a Fox News correspondent. Criticism from the press and public was swift, and in response, the administration attempted to reas- sure the press that it would not be conscripted into the service of law enforcement. President Obama urged Congress to rein- troduce a federal shield bill that would allow …
Wikileaks Would Not Qualify To Claim Federal Reporter’S Privilege In Any Form, Jonathan Peters
Wikileaks Would Not Qualify To Claim Federal Reporter’S Privilege In Any Form, Jonathan Peters
Jonathan Peters
This article addresses whether WikiLeaks could claim a federal reporter’s privilege if the U.S. government or a U.S. entity tried to compel one of the site’s staff members to disclose the source(s) of any documents it has released. After exploring the origins of the First Amendment-based privilege, I argue that WikiLeaks would not be able to claim it. First, the website does not engage in investigative reporting. Second, it has not taken steps consistently to minimize harm. I also discuss congressional attempts to pass a federal shield law, paying special attention to H.R. 985 and S. 448, the two most …
Wikileaks, The First Amendment, And The Press, Jonathan Peters
Wikileaks, The First Amendment, And The Press, Jonathan Peters
Jonathan Peters
This article focuses on one question: When can the government, consonant with the First Amendment, punish the publication of classified information related to national security? To that end, Part I outlines the constitutional standards that could apply to such a prosecution of WikiLeaks. Part II discusses whether WikiLeaks is part of the press and whether that matters for constitutional purposes. Part III concludes by urging the Justice Department to consider carefully whether it should prosecute WikiLeaks.