AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS et al v. PUBLIC.RESOURCE.ORG, INC.

Filing 144

Consent MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Curiae Brief by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Attachments: #1 Proposed Amicus Curiae Brief, #2 Text of Proposed Order)(Brown, Bruce)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING
AND MATERIALS d/b/a ASTM
INTERNATIONAL;
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION, INC.; and
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING,
REFRIGERATING, AND AIR
CONDITIONING ENGINEERS,

Case No. 1:13-cv-01215-TSC-DAR

Plaintiffs-Counterdefendants,
v.
PUBLIC.RESOURCE.ORG, INC.,
Defendant-Counterclaimant.

MOTION OF THE REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOR
LEAVE TO FILE BRIEF AS AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTCOUNTERCLAIMANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND IN
OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND FOR A
PERMANENT INJUNCTION
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (“Reporters Committee”) hereby
requests permission to submit the attached brief as amicus curiae in support of DefendantCounterclaimant’s motion for summary judgment and in opposition to PlaintiffsCounterdefendants’ motion for summary judgment and for a permanent injunction. The
Reporters Committee is an unincorporated nonprofit association of reporters and editors
dedicated to safeguarding the First Amendment rights and freedom of information interests of

the news media and the public. The Reporters Committee has provided assistance, guidance, and
research in First Amendment and freedom of information litigation since 1970.
The Reporters Committee submits the attached brief to aid the Court in understanding the
First Amendment and freedom of information issues raised by the current litigation from the
viewpoint of the news media. The Reporters Committee seeks to explain to the Court how a
scenario under which citizens must pay money to obtain access to standards incorporated by
reference raises important public policy questions that implicate the First Amendment and
Freedom of Information Act.
The Reporters Committee has informed all parties to this matter of its intent to submit the
attached brief. Defendant-Counterclaimant has consented to its filing. PlaintiffsCounterdefendants have no objection to its filing.
For the foregoing reasons, the Reporters Committee respectfully requests leave to file the
attached brief.

Dated: January 11, 2016

/s/ Bruce D. Brown
Bruce D. Brown (D.C. Bar No. 57317)
THE REPORTERS COMMITTEE
FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
1156 15th St. NW, Ste. 1250
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

2

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on January 11, 2016, the foregoing document was filed electronically
with the Clerk of the Court through the Court’s CM/ECF system, which will automatically serve
all counsel of record.

Dated: January 11, 2016

/s/ Bruce D. Brown
Bruce D. Brown (D.C. Bar No. 57317)
THE REPORTERS COMMITTEE
FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
1156 15th St. NW, Ste. 1250
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Counsel for Amicus Curiae

3