Search

Categories

Total Results

No Record Found

View All Results
DONATE

FAC’s Mobile Website

Drug cartel chief gets 25 years in secret proceeding

donal brown February 25, 2010

A federal district judge sentenced one of the most feared drug lords to 25 years in prison in a proceeding closed to the public, a rare occurrence for a sentencing phase. The judge offered no explanation for the secrecy. -db Houston Chronicle February 24, 2010 By Dane Schiller and Jacquee Petchel Behind armed guards and locked doors — in a secret hearing of judicial privacy not even given to some 9/11 terrorists or East Coast

Read More »

High court rules for open criminal trials

donal brown January 20, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court found that under the First Amendment, the public has the right of access to jury selection under the First and Sixth Amendments. The ruling came in a case in which a trial judge had excluded a criminal defendant’s uncle from viewing jury selection to keep the prospective jurors from mingling with the audience. -DB The National Law Journal January 20, 2010 By Tony Mauro The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday strengthened

Read More »

Judge grants limited press access to jury selection in key Kansas murder trial

donal brown January 18, 2010

The Associated Press and other media outlets gained a partial victory in contesting a judge’s decision to close jury selection for the trial of a man who allegedly murdered a late-term abortion provider in Kansas. The Kansas Supreme Court asked the judge to reconsider his decision and in a subsequent ruling granted courtroom access only after the jury poll was narrowed to 42. -DB The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press January 15, 2010 By Curry

Read More »

Prop 8 hearing: Strict enforcement of laws against assault needed rather than curtailing TV coverage

donal brown January 12, 2010

A Citizen Media Law Project blogger argues that the Supreme Court should recognize that it is against California law to assault witnesses and that not televising the proceedings will not protect witnesses in what promises to be a widely publicized event. To allow the broadcast on YouTube would provide a boost to freedom of the press and greater access for millions of Americans who would then be able to see our justice system at work.

Read More »

Federal judge for same-sex marriage trial approves taping but limits live broadcast

donal brown January 7, 2010

Chief Judge Vaugh Walker ruled that court personnel can tape the proceedings of the federal challenge to Prop 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage, but maintained control by not allowing live broadcast except to federal courthouses in cities in other states. -DB The Recorder January 7, 2010 By Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO — Chief Judge Vaughn Walker made it clear Wednesday that he will forge ahead with televising the federal challenge to Prop 8. But

Read More »