FOI Trends and Online Court Systems

Student Journalism and ICE Detentions

Meghan Irons, NEFAC mentor and Boston University professor, describes the state of student journalism and its vital role in our communities. Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the Student Press Law Center, discusses the detainment of a student op/ed writer by federal immigration authorities… and why this should alarm us all. Guest Bios and Contact Information * Meghan Irons [https://www.bu.edu/com/profile/meghan-irons/] | mirons@bu.edu [mirons@bu.edu] * Mike Hiestand [https://splc.org/staff/] | mhiestand@splc.org [mhiestand@splc.org] Additional News and Resources Student Journalism * NEFAC Mentors [https://www.nefac.org/mentors/] * The Increasingly Important Role of Student Journalists | East Bay Media Group [https://www.eastbayri.com/bristol/stories/the-increasingly-important-role-of-student-journalists,119952] * A Possible Role for Student Journalists and Student Journalism in Helping to Provide Communities with Local News [https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/local-news-and-student-journalism-report-summary/] ICE Detentions and Student Press * NEFAC, National First Amendment Groups Condemn Detention of Tufts University Student Op/Ed Writer [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-national-first-amendment-groups-condemn-detention-of-tufts-university-student-op-ed-writer/] * Detention of Tufts Student is a Brazen Attack on the First Amendment | The Day [https://theday.com/news/725646/detention-of-tufts-student-a-brazen-attack-on-first-amendment/] * Writing an Op-Ed is Not Grounds for Deportation | ACLU [https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/writing-an-op-ed-is-not-grounds-for-deportation]

FOI Trends and Online Court Systems

Megan Rhyne at the National Freedom of Information Coalition describes troubling freedom of information trends throughout the country. Bangor Daily News reporter Sawyer Loftus discusses online access to Maine court records and how a promise made 10 years ago remains unfulfilled. Guest Bios and Contact Information * Megan Rhyne [https://www.nfoic.org/about/staffbios/] | mrhyne@opengovva.org [mrhyne@opengovva.org] * Sawyer Loftus [https://www.bangordailynews.com/author/sloftus/] | sloftus@bangordailynews.com [sloftus@bangordailynews.com] Additional News and Resources Open Government Trends * National Freedom of Information Coalition [https://www.nfoic.org/] * Sunshine Week [https://sunshineweek.org/] * Sunshine Week 2025 | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/sunshine-week-2025/] * MuckRock Survey of FOIA Fees Points to Uneven Picture Across Country [https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2023/dec/20/muckrock-survey-of-foia-fees-points-to-uneven-picture-across-the-us/] * Beast or Burden: Nuisance, Vexatious, or Burdensome Public Records Requests | NFOIC [https://www.nfoic.org/wp-content/uploads/pages/2018-12/NFOIC_WP_112818_Vexatious_PR_requests_0.pdf] Maine Online Court Record Access * NEFAC to Maine Judicial Branch: Online Court Records System Broken, Needs Immediate Fix [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-to-maine-judicial-branch-online-court-records-system-broken-pressing-concern-for-public/] * Maine Has Spent Millions to Digitize Court Records — and They’re Still Mostly Not Online | Portland Press Herald [https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/maine-has-spent-millions-to-digitize-court-records-and-theyre-still-mostly-not-online-2/] * Online Access to State Court Documents in Maine (video) [https://youtu.be/_XA42uo3UnM] * Maine FOI Guide [https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-maine/]

CivDoc and Search Warrants

Melanie Plenda, a NEFAC advisor and director of the Granite State News Collaborative, speaks about Civic Documenters, a program she launched with the coalition that supports newsrooms in New Hampshire. WBUR investigative reporter and NEFAC advisor Todd Wallack discusses search warrant records in Massachusetts, how the public’s access to them can be limited, and why that’s a problem. Guest Bios and Contact Information * Melanie Plenda [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieplenda/] | melanie.plenda@collaborativenh.org [melanie.plenda@collaborativenh.org] * Todd Wallack [https://www.wbur.org/inside/staff/todd-wallack] | twallack@bu.edu [twallack@bu.edu] Additional News and Resources New Hampshire Civic Documenters * Civic Documenters | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/civdoc/] * Introducing Civic Documenters: Empowering Communities to Strengthen Local News Coverage | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/news/introducing-civic-documenters-empowering-communities-to-strengthen-local-news-coverage/] * How Civic Documenters Empower Communities and Strengthen Local News Coverage (audio) [https://granitebeatnh.podbean.com/e/how-civic-documenters-empower-communities-and-strengthen-local-news-coverage/] * Granite State News Collaborative [https://www.collaborativenh.org/] Massachusetts Search Warrant Records * Improved Access to Search Warrant Records Needed in Massachusetts | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-improved-access-to-search-warrant-records-needed-in-massachusetts/] * Boston Police Failed to Arrest ‘Serial Rapist' for Years Despite DNA Evidence | WBUR [https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/22/boston-alvin-campbell-rape-case-police]

Public Commentary and Court Records

NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan describes speech ordinances at open meetings in New Hampshire. He explains why such restrictions often conflict with our First Amendment rights and what NEFAC is doing in response. Attorney Harrison Stark discusses our lack of online access to court records in Vermont and how that frustrates the public’s right to know. Guest Bios and Contact Information * Gregory V. Sullivan [https://www.nenpa.com/gregory-v-sullivan/] | g.sullivan@mslpc.net [g.sullivan@mslpc.net] * Harrison Stark [https://www.acluvt.org/en/about/staff] | hstark@acluvt.org [hstark@acluvt.org] Additional News and Resources New Hampshire Speech Ordinances * NEFAC, ACLU to City of Manchester: Change Unconstitutional Rules on Public Comments [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-aclu-to-city-of-manchester-change-unconstitutional-rules-on-public-comments/] * NEFAC, ACLU to Nashua Officials: Repeal Unconstitutional Civility Ordinance [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-aclu-to-nashua-officials-repeal-unconstitutional-civility-ordinance/] * Civility and Government Meetings | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/civility-and-government-meetings-how-towns-in-new-hampshire-region-are-addressing-public-commentary/] * Video: New Hampshire Open Meetings and Public Commentary [https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-newhampshire/] Vermont Court Records * NEFAC, Vt. Open Government Advocates Recommend Changes to Court Records System [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-vt-open-government-advocates-recommend-changes-to-court-records-system/] * Video: Online Access to Vermont Court Documents [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSh8eK9b83M&list=PLPGqW8uU8mnJgiUtZezxBPaHtISsf-8vD&index=14&pp=gAQBiAQB]

Shield Laws and Connecticut FOIA

Attorney Jonathan Albano discusses a little-known controversy in the high-profile Karen Read murder trial and what reporter confidentiality protections exist in Massachusetts. Former NEFAC legal fellow Lindsey Vickers describes the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act and her experience trying to obtain public records under the law. Guest Bios and Contact Information * Jonathan Albano [https://www.morganlewis.com/bios/jonathanalbano] | jonathan.albano@morganlewis.com [jonathan.albano@morganlewis.com] * Lindsey Vickers [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lLNkPSNZ0MFzgCtDJleXpUgD3IPNnW-2o11WLjfB6yc/edit?usp=sharing] | lindsvix@uw.edu [lindsvix@uw.edu] Additional News and Resources Reporter Confidentiality Protections in Massachusetts * Reporter's Privilege Compendium | Reporters Committee [https://www.rcfp.org/privilege-compendium/massachusetts/] * The Karen Read Case Shows Why We Need a Shield Law | Media Nation [https://dankennedy.net/2024/11/09/the-karen-read-case-shows-why-we-need-a-shield-law-plus-a-state-police-outrage-and-trump-and-the-press/] * States Must Step Up to Protect Journalist-Source Confidentiality | Freedom of the Press Foundation [https://freedom.press/issues/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/] * Press Groups Argue Against Forced Disclosure of Reporter’s Notes in Karen Read Case | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-press-groups-argue-against-forced-disclosure-of-reporters-notes-in-karen-read-case/] Connecticut Public Record Laws * The Connecticut Freedom of Information Act [https://portal.ct.gov/foi/quick-links/the-foi-act] * Connecticut Public Records: Video Tutorials | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/connecticut-public-records-videos/] * Connecticut Public Records Law FAQs | NEFAC [https://www.nefac.org/connecticut-public-records/] * NEFAC Connecticut FOI Guide [https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-connecticut]