UGA Law School’s First Amendment Clinic, along with UGA’s Community HeLP Clinic and four other clinics from Harvard, Columbia, Texas A&M, and Boston University, were chosen as the 2021 recipients of the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) award for “Excellence in a Public Interest Project.”
Keep ReadingAmicus victory in Open Records Act appeal
The Clinic achieved an amicus victory in Love v. Atlanta Falcons Stadium Co., LLC where the defendant company voluntarily handed over 1,500 pages of documents sought by the plaintiffs under Georgia’s Open Records Act (ORA) rather than wait for the Georgia Court of Appeals to likely order the documents to be produced.
Keep ReadingClinic challenges Open Meetings Act violations by City of Forest Park
The First Amendment Clinic is representing independent journalist Robin Kemp of the Clayton Crescent in challenging Open Meetings Act violations by the City of Forest Park, Georgia.
Keep ReadingBohanan v. Robinson – Clinic wins free speech protections against online censorship
The University of Georgia School of Law’s First Amendment Clinic secured agreement against online censorship in a settlement with Douglas County Commissioner Kelly G. Robinson who blocked county resident Brenda Bohanan from his interactive Facebook page after she criticized his response to constituent concerns.
Keep ReadingClinic provides training and legal assistance to collegiate journalists
On October 8, 2020 the First Amendment Clinic delivered its third media law training to collegiate journalists at universities across Georgia.
Keep ReadingOnline censorship: public officials blocking citizens on social media
A critical mass of courts — including the three Circuit Court of Appeals to have so far addressed the issue — find that it constitutes unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment for a public official who operates an interactive social media account in their capacity as a state actor to deny individuals access to that account based on dislike of or disagreement with their speech.
Keep ReadingClinic presents to Georgia municipal attorneys & public officials on social media blocking
On September 17, 2020, the First Amendment Clinic presented to over 100 Georgia municipal attorneys on the current state of the law regarding public officials blocking constituents on social media.
Keep ReadingDouglas City Council adopts Clinic’s recommendations for protecting free speech
Earlier this year, the City of Douglas in Coffee County, Georgia adopted new Rules of Procedure and Order (“Council Rules”) for its City Council meetings and hearings.
Keep ReadingClinic highlighted in The Oconee Enterprise
First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins spoke with The Oconee Enterprise about the new clinic’s launch and the importance of lawyers and journalists working together to defend freedom of speech.
Keep ReadingProtection of news sources in Georgia & the 11th Circuit
Georgia’s Shield Law, most recently codified at O.C.G.A. § 24-5-508, and the qualified reporters’ privilege recognized by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (covering Georgia, Alabama and Florida) both protect journalists, in many instances, from being compelled as a third-party witness or from having to produce their work product as evidence in a legal proceeding as to which the journalist is not a party.
Keep ReadingCitizens’ right to record the police
Under the First Amendment, citizens have the right to record the police performing their duties in public. This right is essential to informing the public about police activity and holding government accountable for the actions of law enforcement.
Keep ReadingFirst Amendment rights on campus
The First Amendment Clinic, partnering with UGA’s Office of Legal Affairs, hosted a class on June 19, 2020 for UGA faculty and staff focusing on campus free speech issues.
Keep ReadingClinic receives national CLEA award for excellence
UGA Law School’s First Amendment Clinic, along with UGA’s Community HeLP Clinic and four other clinics from Harvard, Columbia, Texas A&M, and Boston University, were chosen as the 2021 recipients of the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) award for “Excellence in a Public Interest Project.”
Keep ReadingAmicus victory in Open Records Act appeal
The Clinic achieved an amicus victory in Love v. Atlanta Falcons Stadium Co., LLC where the defendant company voluntarily handed over 1,500 pages of documents sought by the plaintiffs under Georgia’s Open Records Act (ORA) rather than wait for the Georgia Court of Appeals to likely order the documents to be produced.
Keep ReadingClinic challenges Open Meetings Act violations by City of Forest Park
The First Amendment Clinic is representing independent journalist Robin Kemp of the Clayton Crescent in challenging Open Meetings Act violations by the City of Forest Park, Georgia.
Keep ReadingBohanan v. Robinson – Clinic wins free speech protections against online censorship
The University of Georgia School of Law’s First Amendment Clinic secured agreement against online censorship in a settlement with Douglas County Commissioner Kelly G. Robinson who blocked county resident Brenda Bohanan from his interactive Facebook page after she criticized his response to constituent concerns.
Keep ReadingClinic provides training and legal assistance to collegiate journalists
On October 8, 2020 the First Amendment Clinic delivered its third media law training to collegiate journalists at universities across Georgia.
Keep ReadingOnline censorship: public officials blocking citizens on social media
A critical mass of courts — including the three Circuit Court of Appeals to have so far addressed the issue — find that it constitutes unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment for a public official who operates an interactive social media account in their capacity as a state actor to deny individuals access to that account based on dislike of or disagreement with their speech.
Keep ReadingClinic presents to Georgia municipal attorneys & public officials on social media blocking
On September 17, 2020, the First Amendment Clinic presented to over 100 Georgia municipal attorneys on the current state of the law regarding public officials blocking constituents on social media.
Keep ReadingDouglas City Council adopts Clinic’s recommendations for protecting free speech
Earlier this year, the City of Douglas in Coffee County, Georgia adopted new Rules of Procedure and Order (“Council Rules”) for its City Council meetings and hearings.
Keep ReadingClinic highlighted in The Oconee Enterprise
First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins spoke with The Oconee Enterprise about the new clinic’s launch and the importance of lawyers and journalists working together to defend freedom of speech.
Keep ReadingProtection of news sources in Georgia & the 11th Circuit
Georgia’s Shield Law, most recently codified at O.C.G.A. § 24-5-508, and the qualified reporters’ privilege recognized by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (covering Georgia, Alabama and Florida) both protect journalists, in many instances, from being compelled as a third-party witness or from having to produce their work product as evidence in a legal proceeding as to which the journalist is not a party.
Keep ReadingCitizens’ right to record the police
Under the First Amendment, citizens have the right to record the police performing their duties in public. This right is essential to informing the public about police activity and holding government accountable for the actions of law enforcement.
Keep ReadingFirst Amendment rights on campus
The First Amendment Clinic, partnering with UGA’s Office of Legal Affairs, hosted a class on June 19, 2020 for UGA faculty and staff focusing on campus free speech issues.
Keep Reading