BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The state of Vermont has issued an emergency order making all lawsuits public, a rule change attorneys for the Courthouse News Service call “a win for the First Amendment.”
The Burlington Free Press (https://bfpne.ws/2qiFz35 ) reports the new policy is effective immediately, and it applies to any lawsuits that remain confidential in Vermont courts.
Vermont was the only state in the U.S. that kept lawsuits secret until the defendants received their papers. The California-based news service filed a lawsuit against the state court system in March, arguing the state’s confidentiality rules were unconstitutional.
Deputy Attorney General Joshua Diamond says the state first wanted to defend the practice. However, after a review he says the court system thought a rule change was appropriate.
Courthouse News Service is considering withdrawing the lawsuit.
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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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