States try to open records on suits, keep sex-crime victims' names secret

Article Abstract:

Several states are considering legislation which would open court records that have been sealed under secrecy orders or seal records for the protection of victims. California and Michigan have introduced legislation to open records from settled products liability cases, which have prevented the public from learning about defective products. Colorado, Oklahoma and Washington are considering legislation to prevent the release of the names and other information of child sexual abuse or rape victims.

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Justice Blackmun refuses to stop opening of records

Article Abstract:

Harry Blackmun, hearing an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, permitted a temporary stay to expire and thus allowed a sealed divorce file to be opened to the press. Both parties to the divorce, the estate of the woman and her ex-husband who is accused of murdering her, requested that the file remain sealed. Blackmun, however, denied the permanent stay without opinion.

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Prosecutor's rejection of request for Tripp records upheld

Article Abstract:

The Maryland Supreme Court ruled in Office of the State Prosecutor v. Judicial Watch, Inc. that the prosecutor rightly rejected a disclosure request for court documents from the Linda Tripp wiretap investigation because disclosure would have violated the state's grand jury secrecy law.

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