Michigan Courts Unconstitutionally Shield Recordings, Suit Says

Two courts in suburban Detroit have unconstitutional policies on the release of audio and video recordings of proceedings, a federal First Amendment lawsuit filed Wednesday says.

In the 52nd District Court in Oakland County, no audio and video recordings are publicly available, according to the lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In Oakland Circuit Court, the public can view court proceedings, but usually only at the court itself. Viewers can’t copy or share the recordings with the public absent permission from a judge, the suit states.

“Taxpayer dollars are used throughout Michigan to ...