FBI loses 15-year-old Berkeley 'free speech' case

Article Abstract:

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the trial court's decision in Rosenfeld v. Department of Justice to allow a journalist access to FBI records of Free Speech Movement investigations from 1965 on because by that point the FBI was no longer engaging in law enforcement. Under the Freedom of Information Act, government documents related to law enforcement activities are exempt from disclosure. The FBI's own records show that by 1965 it no longer characterized the Free Speech Movement as a subversive threat. Since the public interest in the politically-motivated actions of the FBI is substantial, the law enforcement exemption would not protect the FBI.

United States, Freedom of speech, Political aspects, United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Abortion records ruled exempt 'vital records': statistical information not to be released to local Christian coalition

Article Abstract:

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in Arkansas Department of Health v. Westark Christian Action Council that records of abortions are vital records that are exempted from the state's Freedom of Information law by the state's Vital Records Statistics Act. The lower court had found that the abortion records were not covered by medical record or vital record exceptions based on a narrow reading of fetal death provisions. The Supreme Court believed that protecting abortion records from disclosure was consistent with legislative intent.

Arkansas, Medical records, Access control, Pro-life movement, Abortion services

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