INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, LOCAL 21, AFL-CIO et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, Respondent; CONTRA COSTA NEWSPAPERS, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest, S134253, SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

ABSTRACT:  Re: “In 2005, we sued Oakland to force it to disclose the salaries of government workers. The California Supreme Court eventually ruled unanimously for disclosure; it’s been called the most significant open-government victory in the state in a generation,” according to Thomas Peele, an investigative reporter for the Contra Costa Times and lecturer of public records at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism as reported in The Carmel Pine Cone news article entitled “Stilwell: Most secretive gov’t. official in state?” By MARY SCHLEY, June 20, 2014. Peele is also co-chair of the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter, Freedom of Information Committee.
“Thomas Peele is an investigative reporter for the Bay Area News Group and the Chauncey Bailey Project. He is a 25-year veteran of newspapers on both coasts. His many honors include Investigative and Editors Tom Renner Award and Columbia University’s Paul Tobekin Memorial Award. He was a 2009 finalist for the Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism. Peele specializes in public records and public accountability reporting. He routinely writes enterprise stories about government malfeasance and corruption. He also writes a monthly column, The Watchdog, on government transparency and freedom of the press. Before joining the Contra Costa Times in 2000, Peele was a staff writer for the Atlantic City Press in New Jersey where he covered government corruption and organized crime. He has also has worked for newspapers in New Jersey, New York and begin his career at Newsday as a prep sportswriter while a college student.”
“Peele holds an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco. His first book, Killing the Messenger, is scheduled to be published by Random House in 2011.”

Source: Berkeley Journalism, UC BERKELEY/GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, People, Lecturers & Fellows

The California Supreme Court Case, namely INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, LOCAL 21, AFL-CIO et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, Respondent; CONTRA COSTA NEWSPAPERS, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest, S134253, SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA, 42 Cal. 4th 319; 165 P.3d 488; 64 Cal. Rptr. 3d 693; 2007 Cal. LEXIS 8918; 26 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 940; 35 Media L. Rep. 2590, August 27, 2007, Filed, is embedded.

ADDENDUM:
THOMAS PEELE
Investigative Journalist – Writer - Educator
Thomaspeele.com
Curriculum Vitae

About Thomas Peele

California Supreme Court Opinion S134253 2007

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, LOCAL 21, AFL-CIO et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, Respondent; CONTRA COSTA NEWSPAPERS, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest
S134253
SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
42 Cal. 4th 319; 165 P.3d 488; 64 Cal. Rptr. 3d 693; 2007 Cal. LEXIS 8918; 26 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 940; 35 Media L. Rep. 2590
August 27, 2007, Filed
CALIFORNIA COURTS
THE OFFICIAL CASE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
LexisNexis

Supreme Court of California INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, LOCAL 21, AFL-CIO et al., Petitioners, v. The SUPERIOR COURT of Alameda County, Respondent; Contra Costa Newspapers, Inc., et al., Real Parties in Interest. No. S134253. Decided: August 27, 2007

REFERENCES:
Stilwell: Most secretive gov’t. official in state?
By MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, June 20, 2014, 1A, 12A

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Court OKs right to know public pay
By Thomas Peele
STAFF WRITER, 08/27/2007