RCFP Condemns 2 Handcuffings at New Orleans Courthouse After Closed July Indictment Hearing
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
RCFP Condemns 2 Handcuffings at New Orleans Courthouse After Closed July Indictment Hearing
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
Summary
An Aug. 5 RCFP letter told New Orleans Criminal District Court there was "no excuse" for deputies to handcuff WWL producer Danny Monteverde and lawyer Elana Beiser while they challenged a courtroom closure.
The pair were detained on July 2 after objecting when Judge Leon Roche cleared the courtroom for a grand jury indictment of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, even though state law requires grand jury returns in open court.
RCFP said the court made no findings to justify closure, urged judges to hear press and public objections before sealing proceedings, and offered training on legal access to judicial hearings.
The courthouse clash came amid a politically charged case against Murrill that the Louisiana Supreme Court quickly paused over procedural flaws before a special prosecutor dismissed it on July 22.