Litigation Resources

MLRC offers a number of resources of use to media law practitioners. These materials are accessible online only to Media members, Enhanced Defense Counsel Section members, and Basic Defense Counsel Section member organizations that have purchased a subscription. Other MLRC members may access these materials by directly contacting MLRC.

MLRC's Litigation Resources include databases, collections of case documents, and model documents:

Databases and Document Collections:

• Brief Bank: A searchable collection of briefs in media and First Amendment cases, the majority of which were prepared and submitted by MLRC members.
  • MLRC also periodically publishes a Model Trial Brief (pdf), which includes the best sections of briefs from the Brief Bank.
• Expert Witness Directory: Contains information about both defense and plaintiffs' experts, including a list of cases in which they have been designated.
• Closing Arguments: Transcripts of closing arguments in several recent cases.
• Jury Instructions: Contains proposed and actual jury instructions in media libel, privacy, and related trials.
  • Includes the 2000 Jury Instruction Manual.
• Jury Verdict Forms: Proposed and used jury verdict forms from a variety of trials.
• Trial Tales: Since 1991, Tom Kelly's "Trial Tales," compiling information on media trials from the attorneys involved, has been a highlight of the Biennial National Conference.

Model Documents:

• Model Policy on Access and Use of Electronic Portable Devices in Courthouses and Courtrooms (2010)
• MLRC Panic Book (2008; updated 2010)
• Model Brief on Newsgathering Claims (2008)
• Model Trial Brief (2006)
• Model Brief on Jury Access Issues (2004)
• Model Trial Brief (2001)
• Jury Instruction Manual (2000)

Searching Litigation Resources

The Brief Bank and Expert Witness Directory must be searched separately (Brief Bank search; Expert Witness search); Closing Arguments, Jury Instructions, Jury Verdict Forms and Other Materials may be searched through our Universal Search page.