Constitutional Law

Calif. appeals court orders judge to reverse photo ban

By By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A state appellate court has ordered a judge to reverse her order barring the Los Angeles Times from publishing photos of a murder suspect taken in court.

The court ruled yesterday on the order by Superior Court Judge Hilleri Merritt, who initially allowed photographer Al Seib to take photos of Alberd Tersargyan, who is accused of murdering a Hollywood family. Merritt later barred Seib from taking photos or using those he?d already shot, after a defense attorney objected.

Attorney Jeff Glasser, who represents the Times, argued that the order was a prior restraint and a violation of the First Amendment.

Merritt had said she was worried that photos of Tersargyan in a jail jumpsuit could influence potential witnesses and interfere with his right to a fair trial.

Court spokesman Allan Parachini says no decision had been made in response to the appeals court?s order.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on August 09, 2010 (boomark / email).