LAWYERS ALLIANCE FOR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS

Mission: To provide financial support to journalists in the Santa Barbara community who require legal advice or representation, or other assistance, with respect to issues concerning exercising their First Amendment rights. While the impetus for forming the group stems from recent events involving reporters and editors leaving the Santa Barbara News Press, the mission is not limited to that specific situation.

Functions: The Alliance will screen applicants for financial support and will assist applicants in identifying and engaging legal counsel. The Alliance will not provide legal advice or representation, although individual Alliance members are free to provide legal services to any recipient of Alliance funding. Alliance deliberations and decisions will be confidential.

The activities of the Alliance will be directed by a Steering Committee of 7 members (elected from the members of the Alliance). Case screening will be conducted by a two or three-member working group appointed by the Steering Committee. The working group will report its recommendations to the Steering Committee.

Contributions: Alliance members will be asked to secure private contributions to the Alliance. Contributions will be delivered to a local accountant who has volunteered to help. Contributions will be deposited in a segregated bank account. We are currently investigating whether contributions could be tax deductible. Records of contributions and expenditures will be maintained and donors will receive receipts and a letter concerning the Alliance’s refund policy. Records will be available to all Alliance members. All contributions will be confidential to the extent permitted by law, except as the donor may otherwise wish.

When the Alliance determines that it is appropriate to cease functioning, to the extent permitted by law any remaining funds will be refunded pro-rata to the donors who contributed $1000 or more, to the extent they can be located. Other funds shall be donated to an organization selected by the Steering Committee. If feasible, the funds will be devoted to the pursuit of the Alliance’s principal mission as described above.

Form of Organization: The Alliance may be formed as an unincorporated association of individuals. Alternatively, the Alliance may be formed as a California non-profit public benefit corporation, although doing so may preclude refunding unused contributions. This decision is pending, as is the decision as to whether to seek tax exempt status.

Administrative Support: The Alliance’s mailing address is: P.O. Box 5159, Santa Barbara, CA 93150. Phone: 805 690-6103. Fax: 805: 969-6675. Delivery: 1482 East Valley Road, Suite 30, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: We will confirm that, at formation, Alliance members do not represent any individuals who are known to be candidates for funding nor other interested parties. If after formation an Alliance member is engaged to represent a candidate for funding, that member shall play no role in the Alliance’s decisions regarding funding for any applicant, but may remain a member of the Alliance. Alliance members shall disclose to the Steering Committee any personal or business relationship with an applicant for funding or, alternatively, may voluntarily elect recusal from participation in the decision to award funding to that applicant.

Alliance Counsel: The Alliance will consider engaging its own counsel.

Members: The member list distributed to the public will include name and principal affiliation (with the notation that the affiliation is shown for identification purposes only).