Appeals court says Sean Taylor trial won't be open

In the name of censorship (apparently), a Florida appellate court has denied an appeal from three media outlets to open the murder trial of former Redskins CB Sean Taylor.

A Miami-Dade circuit judge ruled last month that the trial would not be open to the media and the public because he worried that the four defendants accused of killing Taylor would not receive a fair trial otherwise.

The Miami Herald – along with the Washington Post and Miami’s WPLG Channel 10 – appealed that decision, but the three-judge appellate court denied it and didn’t issue a written opinion (see, the court is even censoring ITSELF!!!).

“I am shocked,” Karen Williams Kammer, the attorney representing the TV station, told the Washington Post. “In my 24 years practicing in this area in South Florida, aside from hearings involving children in child custody cases, I have never seen a judge close a hearing, especially when there has been no evidence presented by those wanting it closed to justify its being closed… For that reason, I find this very disappointing.”

As the Post points out, the media outlets could continue their appeal – either with the entire 10-member appellate court or with the Florida supreme court. Hopefully, they will, and hopefully, the district court’s decision will be overturned.

We, the public, have a right to know what is happening.

Click here to order Sean Taylor’s proCane Rookie Card.



(cbssports.com)