Legal Assistance

The New England First Amendment Coalition reviews requests involving freedom of speech and the press, newsgathering, access to courts and government proceedings, public records, open meetings, and related media law issues in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as federal cases and those in other jurisdictions that may be relevant or have consequence to those in the New England States.

NEFAC does not represent individuals or organizations. In litigation, NEFAC may act as a plaintiff or other party, or help support representation led by independent counsel. Depending on the issue and its resources, NEFAC may also consider providing general information, providing contact information for another lawyer or organization, supporting a matter through its Legal Fund, or participating as an amicus or advocate. NEFAC has limited staff and cannot help with or respond to every request.

About the NEFAC Legal Fund

The New England First Amendment Coalition launched in 2025 a legal fund to provide support for journalism and open government cases. The fund was established with a new investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

“For nearly 20 years, our coalition has been the region’s leading advocate for First Amendment freedoms and open government. We educate New Englanders about the vital roles journalism and government transparency play across the nation,” NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan said. “With the help of Knight Foundation, we can now expand our litigation efforts and better serve democracy in the region.”

The need for a regional legal fund is growing. Journalists are encountering more obstacles in their pursuit of essential public-interest reporting. Accessing public records or court documents, protecting confidential sources and obtaining information from public officials are all growing more complex, time-consuming and expensive. In many cases, legal action becomes the only viable option. For local newsrooms and individual journalists, however, the costs are often prohibitive.

The NEFAC Legal Fund can now help.

“Local journalism is essential to helping people understand what’s happening in their communities,” said Marisa Kwiatkowski, director for journalism at Knight Foundation. “When journalists have the legal support they need, they can spend more time reporting on the issues that affect the everyday lives of people where they live. By supporting local journalists, we strengthen trust and accountability at the local level.”

Our Cases Include

• Maine Trust for Local News, L3C and Hearst Properties Inc. v. City of Bath, Maine
• New England First Amendment Coalition and William Soares v. Town of Narragansett Police Department

Case Selection

The fund is used exclusively for journalism and open government litigation within the six New England states. It supports cases in which the coalition is a party or to offset the litigation costs of others who are fighting their own legal battles. The funding is used only when sufficient financial and legal support is not otherwise available.

Other criteria used for case selection includes:

• What is the likelihood that the case will result in positive, impactful or precedent-setting decisions; clarify the law; or otherwise defend the rights of individuals and newsrooms in New England?
• What is the likelihood that the case result will discourage future restrictions on free press and government transparency?
• Will the litigation result in regional impact or otherwise help the general public as opposed to the parties alone?

“Too often, officials skirt the law knowing that most newsrooms lack the resources to respond,” said Justin Silverman, NEFAC’s executive director. “We are changing that by pursuing cases that support journalism, government transparency and the public interest.”