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When "Public" Doesn't Mean "Public"

One judge took seriously the claim that courtrooms are public:It seemed like a perfect case to ?broadcast? live on the World Wide Web. After all, what could be more Internet-oriented than a court case about the illegal downloading of music files? So in January, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Gertner in Boston gave the Courtroom View Network permission to webcast proceedings. She noted that the Judicial Conference, which sets policy for the federal judiciary, has long had a policy against cameras and recording equipment in courtrooms, but she said she interpreted that ban as being advisory.She was informed that courts really aren't public:But earlier this month, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that Gertner had erred, and pulled the plug on the planned webcast...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on May 04, 2009 (boomark / email).