The Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande Chapter is alarmed by, and staunchly opposed to, new restrictions on the news media’s access to the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque.
A memorandum to members of the media issued June 2 by Chief Judge Nan G. Nash and Clerk of the Court James Noel requires “at least twenty-four (24) hours advanced notice to the Clerk of the Court of their desire to report on any matter within or regarding the Court. Members of the media shall enter the Courthouse through its main entrance and through Court Security. Upon entrance, members of the media shall proceed to Court Administration to ‘sign-in’ with the Clerk of the Court and to verify that they provided twenty-four hours advanced notice to the Court.”
The rules not only apply to photographers, broadcasters and film crews but even newspaper reporters carrying nothing more than a notepad and pen. We appreciate the need for security at a courthouse where many of us work each day.
But these rules mock the principle of open courts.
The public has a right to see its justice system at work. Impeding the work of journalists who report from the courts will only erode that right and, we fear, limit the community’s access to this institution.
Moreover, we do not believe the court has any authority to require our members or any other journalists to provide advance notice of reporting on “any matter regarding the court” (emphasis added). Nor do we believe the court has any authority to require reporters “sign in” with security even when carrying nothing more than what a lawyer or litigant might tote around the building.
The memo says “recent violations of these policies, and recent actions aimed at detracting from the dignity of the Court” prompted this “reminder” about the court’s rules.
If this is the case, we expect court administrators to address their concerns to those whose behavior they find disruptive.
Establishing new, burdensome and unnecessary rules is counterproductive. It also leaves us doubting the stated motives for these provisions.
We do not expect unfettered access to the courts but we do expect court officials to remember that the courthouse is not their private domain. The courthouse belongs to our readers, viewers and listeners.
We discourage our members and other journalists from observing these obstructive rules.
