Access to the news is sometimes denied journalists because they do not meet whatever definition of "reporter" is being used in a particular situation. This paper examines issues related to the identification of persons as reporters. Among the topics considered are ordinances authorizing the issuance of press cards to reporters; court…

A wrongful arrest/racial discrimination suit in Livingston, Texas ended unfavorably for the parents of an African-American fifth-grader complaining of unfair treatment by his teacher and classmates. The parents' complaint should have been remedied, short of their having to make a federal case of miscommunication. (MLH)

The fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, brought to light a lack of compliance with the freedom of information philosophy and its supporting statutes. Freedom of information means circulation of important information. However, at the Grand Hotel, the hotel staff had not been properly trained in disaster procedures, the escape…

The possibility that judges' expectancy effects may adversely affect the results of jury trials is a problem that needs careful theoretical analysis and innovative methods of resolution. Traditional efforts by the legal community to counteract the threat of verbal/nonverbal bias by judges include the "Code of Judicial Conduct," curative…

Present court procedures and the lack of judge-lawyer-juror communication do little to encourage sound verdicts. To improve communication with the jury, a four part trial communication process including pre-service juror orientation training, pre-jury instructions, main jury instructions, and two-way trial communication is suggested. Pre-service…

Suggests that storytelling is the communicational practice used by jurors to organize information, transmit intragroup understanding and guide judgments. Explores the storytelling process for answers to questions about justice. (MH)

The legal situation of college administrators when they give advice to staff, students, and the public is outlined, and administrators are warned of their legal liability and the potential consequences of giving information and advice. (MSE)

School administrators' failure to take action against teacher incompetence results in decreased student achievement, low teacher morale, diminished confidence in schools, teacher and administrator liability, and increased litigation. To break the cycle of "inarticulitis" (nonstraightforward communication about marginal performance), a new paradigm…

Reviews two challenges to free speech (school-sponsored speech and racist and sexist speech) on the college campus. Suggests guidelines for communication administrators attempting to maximize expressive freedom within the dictates of the law. (PRA)

In "Martinez vs. Santa Clara," an Indian woman sought to overturn a tribal decision made by the Santa Clara Pueblo, in which tribal enrollment had been denied to her children. The case raised legal issues that are related to the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA) and to the relationship of the United States Constitution to tribal law. The…

Educational planners must work within the same definitions and assumptions as their clients so that future facility planning will be based on educational programs incorporating equity, adequacy, and efficiency as inherent concepts rather than designs that respond to legal strictures. (MLF)

The experience of the child victim as a courtroom witness in sexual abuse cases is examined in this study of a testing program involving 30 children aged 6 to 15. The purpose of the study was to identify needs not recognized by courts that can be responded to, denied, or exacerbated through language. Based on court transcripts, differences were…

A possible sex scandal involving a teacher and a teenage student rocked the community in Anchorage, Alaska. Privacy and labor laws and union contract forbade board members from discussing the retirement deal that had been negotiated with the accused teacher. Hindsight suggests board members should have shared what information they could with the…

Describes the development and adoption of Dade County (Florida) guidelines regarding national origin employment discrimination based on language. Discusses the case of English-speaking sisters denied employment because they did not speak Spanish, which prompted development of the guidelines. Presents the text of the guidelines in full. (JB)

This special report describes some of the sources of contemporary student unrest in the nation's high schools, and provides several suggestions for school officials attempting to formulate a policy for dealing with student protest. The discussion of causes of unrest covers such topics as racial conflict, dress and grooming regulations, rule…