Judge accused of creating ‘unusual shroud of secrecy’ in movie theater shooting case

[onehandle]

Source: Yahoo News

The judge's order to seal all records related to Holmes' arrest will be debated in court Thursday. Several media organizations have asked Sylvester to scale back his order barring the release of search warrants, inventories of evidence and other records publicly available in criminal cases.

The gag order has prohibited the University of Colorado from releasing public records related to the suspect's time there as a Ph.D. neuroscience student. The Aurora Police Department has also stopped answering routine questions about the shooting.

An editorial by the Denver Post says Sylvester's order has "imposed an unusual shroud of secrecy on the case" and goes beyond protecting the defendant's right to a fair trial.

"Barriers against secrecy are important in part because of the heightened public interest and the widespread desire for justice," the paper wrote.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/judge-asked-reconsider-gag-order-movie-theater-shooting-114639357.html

[hedgehog]

1. Good for the judge!

[bhikkhu]

2. What a buzz-kill!

The right of the internets to a frenzied, hair-on-fire months-long trial-by-chatroom are being infringed!

[kestrel91316]

4. Holmes' right to a fair trial and untainted jury pool takes major precedence over

any perceived right of the public to his personal medical records.