New England First Amendment Coalition

Did Trump cuts slow access to public records? We found 26 cases that say yes. - The Boston Globe The public health institute’s FOIA office had lost too many staff members to fulfill public record requests.

Did Trump Cuts Slow Access to Public Records? We Found 26 Cases That Say Yes | The Washington Post www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/14/n...

Judge orders names on public records for “Brady Letters” by Northwestern DA must be disclosed A judge ordered that the names on public records for “Brady Letters” by the Northwestern DA must be disclosed.

Judge Orders Names on Public Records for 'Brady Letters' By Northwestern DA Must Be Disclosed | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/local-n...

ACLU of Maine sues Sanford for records relating to cooperation with federal immigration agents It's part of a statewide effort by the ACLU to document instances of local police turning people over to ICE or Border Patrol custody.

ACLU of Maine Sues Sanford for Records Relating to Cooperation with Federal Immigration Agents | Maine Public www.mainepublic.org/immigration/...

Authors, free speech advocates rally for reading rights in Massachusetts - Greenfield Recorder Authors, librarians and free speech advocates gathered at the State House on Tuesday to support "An Act Regarding Free Expression," which would declare that no material could be removed from school…

Authors, Free Speech Advocates Rally for Reading Rights in Massachusetts | Greenfield Recorder recorder.com/2026/03/11/b...

How The Marshall Project Has Used Public Records to Prompt Change Sunshine Week kicks off March 15 to highlight the importance of public records and government transparency.

Public Records Shed Light on the Justice System — But it Can Be a Battle to Get Them | The Marshall Project www.themarshallproject.org/2026/03/12/s...

NH House tables bill that would place Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence under 91-A - Concord Monitor The House of Representatives narrowly voted to table a bill that would increase transparency and oversight requirements for the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, 168-156.

NH House Tables Bill That Would Place Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Under 91-A | Concord Monitor www.concordmonitor.com/2026/03/11/n...

Deepfake bill draws fire from broadcasters, free speech advocates Read More at Inside Investigator >>

Deepfake Bill Draws Fire From Broadcasters, Free Speech Advocates | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/deepfake-bil...

Senate wants court opinion on public records, stipends ballot initiatives The Senate is using a rarely invoked constitutional provision allowing the legislative and executive branches to seek advisory opinions from the state Supreme Judicial Court.

Senate Wants Court Opinion on Public Records, Stipends Ballot Initiatives | State House News Service www.wbur.org/news/2026/03...

Mass. Senate asks SJC to weigh whether public records, stipends ballot questions are unconstitutional - The Boston Globe Massachusetts lawmakers are asking the state’s highest court to weigh in on a pair of proposed ballot questions that would open their offices up to the state’s public records law and reshape the…

Mass. Senate Asks SJC to Weigh Whether Public Records, Stipends Ballot Questions are Unconstitutional | The Boston Globe www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/12/m...

Charter schools are subject to public records law, SJC rules Excluding charter schools would frustrate the "core transparency mandate" of the law, wrote Justice Serge Georges, Jr. for a unanimous court on Tuesday, given that they are "public schools funded…

Charter Schools are Subject to Public Records Law, SJC Rules | CommonWealth Beacon commonwealthbeacon.org/education/ch...

The First Amendment’s application to public university students: an explainer Free speech on university campuses is a perennially hot topic, perhaps most recently reflected in protests about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at places like Ball State University, Harvard, and…

The First Amendment’s Application to Public University Students: An Explainer | SCOTUSblog www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/the-...

Anthropic’s First Amendment case How the next wave of technology is upending the global economy and its power structures

Anthropic’s First Amendment Case | Politico www.politico.com/newsletters/...

‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ in Massachusetts public records law - The Boston Globe Massachusetts public records laws let government operate in more shadow than sunshine.

‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ in Massachusetts Public Records Law | The Boston Globe www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/11/o...

Massachusetts Charter Schools Subject to Records Law, Court Says Charter schools in Massachusetts are subject to public records laws despite their independence and corporate organizational structure, the state’s high court said Wednesday.

Massachusetts Charter Schools Subject to Records Law, Court Says | Bloomberg Law news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Push to audit Massachusetts Legislature suffers legal setback In the latest chapter of a long running battle between Democratic leaders in Massachusetts, a justice on the commonwealth’s top court has denied the state auditor’s request for outside council in her…

Push to Audit Massachusetts Legislature Suffers Legal Setback | WAMC www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Noncitizen academics allege Trump immigration policy suppressing protected speech A group of noncitizen academics is challenging the Trump administration over immigration policies that allegedly violate their First Amendment rights.   The lawsuit, filed …

Noncitizen Academics Allege Trump Immigration Policy Suppressing Protected Speech | The Hill thehill.com/homenews/edu...

Breaking the Massachusetts Public Records Law shouldn’t be de facto legal The state already has an office that’s supposed to hold officials accountable—it should be empowered to actually carry out this mission.

Breaking the Massachusetts Public Records Law Shouldn’t Be De Facto Legal | The Mass Dump massdump.ghost.io/breaking-the...

Auditor pushes for public records ballot question State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is backing a ballot question that expands public records law to include the governor and the legislature, taking another approach to examine the legislature’s fin…

Auditor Pushes for Public Records Ballot Question | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/state-p...

Dem lawmaker's illegal alien SOTU guest part of records dispute involving police reports: report Rep. Seth Moulton's State of the Union guest reportedly referenced in sealed police reports that Massachusetts authorities have declined to release.

Dem Lawmaker's Illegal Alien SOTU Guest Part of Records Dispute Involving Police Reports | Fox News www.foxnews.com/politics/dem...

Judge weighs New York Times bid to block policy limiting journalists' access to Pentagon The New York Times is urging a federal judge to block a Pentagon policy that has limited access to the building for journalists from many mainstream news outlets. U.S. District

Judge Weighs New York Times Bid to Block Policy Limiting Journalists' Access to Pentagon | Associated Press www.rutlandherald.com/news/busines...

Trump Administration Seeks to Revive Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms | Reuters www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

State Auditor DiZoglio highlights transparency battles, audit mandates in 22News interview Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio discussed her office’s work, ongoing transparency disputes with legislative leaders, and recent findings of waste and fraud, as well as the need for…

State Auditor DiZoglio Highlights Transparency Battles, Audit Mandates | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/infocus...

Records measure exposes more tension between lawmakers, auditor - Athol Daily News BOSTON — Sen. Cindy Friedman banged the gavel multiple times, but it didn’t stop simmering tensions between lawmakers and Auditor Diana DiZoglio from flaring last Tuesday.  Lawmakers and DiZoglio…

Records Measure Exposes More Tension Between Lawmakers, Auditor | State House News Service atholdailynews.com/2026/03/09/r...

In this month's First Amendment and Sunshine News:

- Protest, Criticism and Recording
- Government Transparency
- Trump and the Media
- Law Enforcement Accountability
- And More...

Read our March newsletter: conta.cc/4lvs1Ox

State Capitol Shakedown an Absurd Abuse of Power The arrogance of power is on grand display throughout state agencies in Connecticut. Leading the charge to deny citizens access to public records with phony retainer demands is state Attorney […]

State Capitol Shakedown an Absurd Abuse of Power | CT Examiner ctexaminer.com/2026/03/03/s...

Bill Seeks To Prohibit Public, Charter Schools from Displaying Certain Flags The House Education Policy and Administration Committee voted 10-8 to recommend passing House Bill 1132 with an amendment during its Monday meeting, which seeks to prohibit the display of certain…

Bill Seeks to Prohibit Public, Charter Schools from Displaying Certain Flags | InDepthNH indepthnh.org/2026/03/02/b...

Lawmakers and DiZoglio clash again – this time over public records reform Auditor Diana DiZoglio showed up ready to fight, and some lawmakers indulged her, at a hearing about a ballot question that would subject the Legislature and governor’s office to the public records…

Lawmakers and DiZoglio Clash Again – This Time Over Public Records Reform | CommonWealth Beacon commonwealthbeacon.org/ballot-quest...

DiZoglio spars with state lawmakers over public records reform Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio and a group of state lawmakers broke into verbal brawls Tuesday during a hearing on a potential ballot question to expand the state's public records law to cover…

DiZoglio Spars with State Lawmakers Over Public Records Reform | WBUR www.wbur.org/news/2026/03...

‘They don’t even pretend to comply’: Mass. agencies, cities, and towns openly flout open record law - The Boston Globe When requests are fought or ignored by agencies, enforcement of Massachusetts' public records law often falls to those who requested the documents.

‘They Don’t Even Pretend to Comply’: Mass. Agencies, Cities, and Towns Openly Flout Open Record Law | The Boston Globe www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/04/m...

EXCLUSIVE: Judiciary’s Secret Meetings to Discipline Judges For years, the Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline has failed to notify the public of meetings, a GoLocal investigation has found.

Judiciary’s Secret Meetings to Discipline Judges | GoLocalProv www.golocalprov.com/news/exclusi...