The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists believes freedom of the press is of paramount importance in maintaining a fair and effective judicial system. Members of the media have a right to attend hearings that occur in open session and access lawsuits filed with the court.
We are concerned by reports that a lawsuit filed by Sharon Stone was inappropriately placed under seal and reporters were temporarily barred from attending a hearing for Redmond O’Neal. It is inappropriate to bar reporters from covering court matters for no other reason than that celebrities are involved.
In light of these recent incidents, SPJ-LA is calling for increased vigilance in ensuring access within the Los Angeles Superior Court. Efforts to limit openness will only undermine the public’s faith in the legal system.
With about 9,000 members, the Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to promoting high standards of ethical behavior and encouraging the free practice of journalism. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
