Rule will mandate court openness (WA State)

[icymist]

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Rule will mandate court openness
Justices to make it harder for judges to seal files

By TRACY JOHNSON
P-I REPORTER

The state Supreme Court is poised to make it more difficult for judges to keep court records secret.

The idea behind a proposed rule, which the court will consider Thursday, is that "you don't close court hearings or records unless you have a good and valid reason to do so," Chief Justice Gerry Alexander said.

A court rules committee voted Monday to recommend the new rule. If adopted, it would take effect in July.

Seattle lawyer Michele Earl-Hubbard, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, said it's important to make sure court records aren't sealed arbitrarily because the public has a right to know how decisions are reached.

(more)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/261966_openrecords07.html

[keopeli]

1. Yeah! I live in a sane state!

[f-bush]

2. Yea Washington

I live in Tacoma.