Court weighs halting release of police video of shootings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Brian Melley, Associated Press
Updated 8:14 pm, Monday, February 6, 2017



PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A federal appeals court considered Monday whether to automatically halt lower court orders publicly releasing video of fatal shootings by police to prevent potential violence.

Judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel acknowledged that the case involving a 2013 shooting of an unarmed man by police in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardena was largely moot because the video was released and widely published.

But in considering whether U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson abused his discretion by denying Gardena a stay of execution and releasing videos sought by The Associated Press and other news organizations, the court questioned if future video releases should be put on hold to offer a chance of appeal.

Judge Andrew Kleinfeld said stays are automatically granted in other types of cases. He repeatedly questioned a news media lawyer about why it was in the public interest to release videos that might incite violence and rioting.




Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/City-wants-judge-rebuked-for-releasing-video-of-10910686.php

[montana_hazeleyes]

1. Fatal police shootings are violence sir.

And we need transparency to see if they are truly justified.

[cstanleytech]

2. I can actually see the courts allowing the withholding of videos for

6 weeks to 1 year at the most.
Not because of any rioting or fear of violence but rather to give the government time enough to conduct investigations and if they find anything then they can file charges and if charges are filed then it gives them enough time to select a jury that hopefully hasnt been tainted to much by anything prematurely.

[LanternWaste]

3. Hiding reality will solve no fundamental problems.

If the mere accuracy of reality results in such potential and explosive violence, then it appears the fault lays with the reality we have created and maintain. Hiding reality will solve no fundamental problems.