via: la dads blog
while this opinion is "not designated for publication," we cant imagine why louisiana's main stream media chose to suppress and cover up the reporting of it.
especially, considering all the braying they do over the importance of the states so called "sunshine laws."
the msm annually devotes an entire week to it; they refer to it as "sunshine week."
anyway, while this is a "not designated for publication" opinion what it does do is lay the groundwork for acquiring a copy of the actual audio recordings of court proceedings via a simple La. R.S. 44:1 et seq., public records request.
can you imagine what a boon this is to not only for main stream media but more importantly for bloggers and for other private citizens?
it's only a small leap to make that if the audio recordings of court proceedings are public record -- then court room observers must be allowed to bring in their own audio and video recording devices -- perhaps as long as it's done discreetly and unobtrusively. thankfully today's modern digital audio and video recording devices allows for this.
sooner rather than later most court proceedings will be streamed live online. technology, the modern era and louisiana's well earned reputation for judicial corruption and misconduct demands it.
it might help to to put a stop to the more flagrant violations if the judges as well as the attorneys knew that the public was watching.
so, the louisiana supreme court should stop making excuses and promulgate the rules and mechanisms necessary to make it happen.
props to honorable a. j. kling, jr., judge ad hoc, for getting it right at the trial court level.
click here to download sixteen page .pdf [1.05 mb]
