The double murder trial of Frank Garcia begins today, and it’s sure to generate high interest in the community.
But key information is being kept from the public. On Monday, an Ontario County judge closed his courtroom for part of a pretrial hearing.
The closure in this case, along with the sealing of records in the Max M. Farash guardianship case, fly in the face of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees open trial procedures. Citizens need to know how justice is being meted out.
Garcia’s lawyer, David Morabito, asked Judge Craig Doran to close the courtroom during a discussion of specific acts in Garcia’s past he could be questioned about, should he decide to testify. Doran agreed.
In the Farash guardianship case which involves personal wealth of up to $500 million, public access is being denied. Many files in that case remain sealed from the public, despite the fact that Supreme Court Judge John Ark recently rendered a ruling. Appropriate files, such as an accounting of money spent by the guardian, should be made public.
Full Article and Source:
Judge erred in closing courtroom in Garcia double-murder hearing
But key information is being kept from the public. On Monday, an Ontario County judge closed his courtroom for part of a pretrial hearing.
The closure in this case, along with the sealing of records in the Max M. Farash guardianship case, fly in the face of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees open trial procedures. Citizens need to know how justice is being meted out.
Garcia’s lawyer, David Morabito, asked Judge Craig Doran to close the courtroom during a discussion of specific acts in Garcia’s past he could be questioned about, should he decide to testify. Doran agreed.
In the Farash guardianship case which involves personal wealth of up to $500 million, public access is being denied. Many files in that case remain sealed from the public, despite the fact that Supreme Court Judge John Ark recently rendered a ruling. Appropriate files, such as an accounting of money spent by the guardian, should be made public.
Full Article and Source:
Judge erred in closing courtroom in Garcia double-murder hearing
I love the words this reporter chose, "....fly in the face of the U.S.Constitution..."
ReplyDeleteThat says it all.
Closed courtrooms indicate hiding injustice.
ReplyDeleteThe murder trial of Frank Garcia should be open to the public, period.
It was done in the Farash case to cover up - it's being done here to accomplish the same thing.
ReplyDeleteSealed files are WRONG!
The public has a right to know!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see this reporter draw the comparison on the wrongful sealing of files with the Farash case.
ReplyDeleteCourtroom secrecy is wrong what are they hiding? And, why?
ReplyDeleteI hope this brings more light to the ongoing problem of judges sealing courts improperly.
ReplyDeleteThis reporter is on the ball!
If guardianship (Farash case) is proomulgated in the public intereest, the public has the right to open trials and records.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, there appears to be some complicity on the part of thre judge, when the issue hidden from the public has to do with money.