Thursday, November 29, 2012

Citizens Have Right To Film Police

Supreme Court Confirms Citizens Right to Film Police By Martha Neil, ABA Journal 28 November 12 http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/345-justice/14766-focus-supreme-court-confirms-citizens-right-to-film-police


[Excerpted] The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a federal appeals court decision finding it unconstitutional to enforce an Illinois state law that makes it a felony to videotape police officers working in public if a microphone is turned on.

The law had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, and a divided panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed earlier this year that it "restricts far more speech than necessary to protect legitimate privacy interests" and, "as applied to the facts alleged here, it likely violates the First Amendment's free speech and free-press guarantees," as Judge Diane Sykes explained in the majority opinion (PDF).

On Monday, the nation's top court declined to hear the state's appeal, leaving the 7th Circuit ruling in force, the Chicago Tribune reports....

Majia Here: This is very good news. Citizens should be able to video police. It is an appropriate CHECK on police power.
 

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