Martha Stewart Jury Selection Closed to Media
Posted on Thu Jan 15, 2004 at 11:04:47 PM EST
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The Judge in the Martha Stewart case is banning the media from jury selection.
We think this is wrong. We're not talking about televising proceedings (not allowed in any federal courts) but about having the press present to report on what happens. The Judge says that she thinks jurors will be less than candid if the media is present.
There are so many ways to protect the privacy of potential jurors (e.g., give them a number, don't refer to them by name, prohibit the press from mentioning their names) that we can't agree with the Judge's ruling. We think it is important that the press be able to report on the jury selection process. It's part of the trial and trials are supposed to take place in public.
We hope the media organizations appeal this ruling before the trial starts.
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