Article Abstract:
The US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in US v. Gonzales denied the Albuquerque Journal full access to documents regarding public defenders' requests to be paid monthly for a case involving 13 gang members accused of murder, drug and other charges. The Court released the full amount of monetary expenditures involved, but refused to release information regarding hearing transcripts and other documentation. The Court stated such information was administrative and not judicial. Information about judicial processes should be released under the First Amendment.
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Article Abstract:
The media and the public do have a right of access to judicial records based on the First Amendment and on the common law, but litigants may wish to restrict this right by requesting that records be sealed. The First Amendment is the stronger basis for requesting access, and courts must hold hearings if records are to be sealed. Claims will be more difficult to bring under state laws and the common law. State statutes and case law in all state and federal jurisdictions are reviewed.
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Article Abstract:
The author discusses the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision in World Publishing Co. v. White, in which the court ruled that juvenile criminal court records could be made available to the press following judicial review.
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