No TV for closing arguments in Prop. 8 trial

June 11, 2010

Posted by Bob Egelko on sfgate.com:

"The only members of the public who will get to watch next week's closing arguments in the trial over the freedom to marry in California will be the ones who make it to the courthouse.

"Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker issued a brief order Thursday denying a request by media organizations to televise the arguments, scheduled to last all day Wednesday in San Francisco. The organizations included Hearst Corp., which owns The Chronicle.

"The denial means 'the public will again only hear about this case second-hand,' said Thomas Burke, the media groups' lawyer.

... "Media organizations asked Walker last month to approve televising the closing arguments. They said that airing a hearing that included only lawyers and the judge couldn't affect witnesses or the fairness of the trial.

"But Prop. 8's backers argued that cameras can distract judges and lawyers and prompt 'grandstanding and avoidance of unpopular decisions or positions.'

"Walker did not spell out his reasons for denying the media request. The arguments will still be shown on closed-circuit TV, but only in an overflow courtroom at the San Francisco courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Ave.

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