Blog

Decision backed by ASNE brief leads to release of jury information

In February 2011, ASNE joined 16 media organizations on an amicus brief urging the Superior Court of Washington, D.C. to release questionnaires completed by jurors serving in the murder trial of Ingmar Guandique, who had been convicted of killing Chandra Levy.

In February 2011, ASNE joined 16 media organizations on an amicus brief urging the Superior Court of Washington, D.C. to release questionnaires completed by jurors serving in the murder trial of Ingmar Guandique, who had been convicted of killing Chandra Levy. The brief was filed after D.C. Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher denied requests made by many news organizations to review the questionnaires or reveal information about the jurors. Last week, the D.C. Court of Appeals overruled Judge Fisher in a strongly worded opinion that reasserts the right of public access to the jury selection process, and requires trial courts to “make specific findings about the protectible privacy interests at stake and (to consider) alternatives to complete closure” before restricting those rights. After the Court of Appeals remanded the case to the Superior Court for implementation consistent with its decision, Judge Fisher wasted no time in releasing the bulk of the juror questionnaires, which revealed some interesting information about the jurors who convicted Guandique and, potentially, their fitness to serve on the jury in this case.

Archive

Contributors