Oregon Supreme Court rules that judges are allowed to prevent the public release of evidence used in a trial
From Judgepedia
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June 26, 2012
Oregon: The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that judges will have the final say in what evidence is released to the public.
This decision comes after a case in which several news organizations demanded the release of 1,200 files which contained names of people accused of sexual abuse. However, Multnomah County Judge John A. Wittmayer did not allow the files to be released. The media appealed to the Supreme Court which ruled in favor of the judge.[1]
An attorney representing the news organizations expressed his concern with the ruling:
| “ | What is troubling is that the supreme court said today that the constitution, the Oregon Constitution, does not guarantee the right of the public to see exhibits that are admitted in evidence.[1] - Attorney Charles Hinkle | ” |
The New York Times, The Oregonian, The Associated Press, Oregon Public Broadcasting and Courthouse News are involved in the case.[1]
References
| This article was written by Kevin Kelly, an Assistant Staff Writer for the State Courts Project on Judgepedia. He can be reached at kevin@judgepedia.org. |
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