State Bar of Texas President Joe K. Longley and SBOT Public Affairs Committee Chair Rudy England welcomed journalists from around the state as winners of Texas Gavel Awards. The Texas Gavel Awards recognize excellence in journalism that fosters public understanding of the legal system; educates the public about the rule of law, the legal profession, … Continue Reading
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will award its prestigious James Madison Award to First Amendment attorney Laura Lee Prather. Prather is a board member and past-president of the FOI Foundation of Texas. She is a partner in the litigation section of Haynes and Boone LLP in Austin. The James Madison Award has been … Continue Reading
Champions of open government lamented incremental, compounding wounds to the Texas Public Information Act and suggested at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas’s annual conference Thursday that state legislators need to step in to stop the bleeding. Jay Root, a reporter for The Texas Tribune, stated it plainly, calling the act “broken and taking … Continue Reading
Wanda Garner Cash, a veteran Texas newswoman and educator who has long fought for the public’s right to know, will receive the 2016 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The award is given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment and open … Continue Reading
A crowd of about 175 gathered Thursday at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas’ annual state conference and awards luncheon to honor legislators, advocates and award-winning journalists who push for transparency in government. Former Sen. Don Adams received the James Madison Award for his legacy; writing and passing the first Texas Open Records Act … Continue Reading