Open Courts Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

31 Jul, 2025

After challenge by WBIR, judge opens juvenile court proceedings, records
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After challenge by WBIR, judge opens juvenile court proceedings, records

crime records, Open Courts

After challenge by WBIR, judge opens juvenile court proceedings, records

By Deborah Fisher|2025-07-31T12:15:44-05:00July 31, 2025|Categories: crime records, Open Courts|Tags: court access, Judge Casey Stokes, juvenile court, juveniles, Local Legal Initiative, Meigs County, Paul McAdoo, WBIR|0 Comments

After a challenge from WBIR in Knoxville, Meigs County Judge Casey Stokes reversed his closure of court proceedings and records in a juvenile murder case, opening future proceedings and access to most documents, including transcripts of previous hearings. WBIR reported on Monday the more detailed allegations against the 15-year-old revealed in the newly released court records: She went to bed angry that her father had taken away her phone and was trying to keep her from her boyfriend. Waking up later, she loaded her gun, checked on her younger brother and debated for about 20 minutes in her room before deciding to go into the living room and shoot her [...]

26 Jun, 2025

Volokh files First Amendment suit against Williamson County over access to court records
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Volokh files First Amendment suit against Williamson County over access to court records

court records, First Amendment

Volokh files First Amendment suit against Williamson County over access to court records

By Deborah Fisher|2025-06-27T16:36:34-05:00June 26, 2025|Categories: court records, First Amendment|Tags: court access, Eugene Volokh, non-residents|0 Comments

Eugene Volokh, a prominent First Amendment scholar, podcaster and author, has filed a lawsuit against Williamson County officials saying its policy of denying access to court records violates the First Amendment.

22 Nov, 2024

Tennessee Supreme Court to hear case on sealed court records
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Tennessee Supreme Court to hear case on sealed court records

court records, First Amendment, public records lawsuits Tennessee, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

Tennessee Supreme Court to hear case on sealed court records

By Deborah Fisher|2024-11-22T11:08:52-06:00November 22, 2024|Categories: court records, First Amendment, public records lawsuits Tennessee, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: Angelita Dalton, Cheryl Blackburn, Daniel Horwitz, Paul McAdoo, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, sealed court records, Steve Cavendish, The Nashville Banner|0 Comments

The Tennessee Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in which a lower court judge refused to unseal court records in a test of the First Amendment right of access by the public to court proceedings and court documents.

14 Aug, 2023

Allow cameras in federal court so people can see powerful judicial branch in action
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Allow cameras in federal court so people can see powerful judicial branch in action

Open Courts

Allow cameras in federal court so people can see powerful judicial branch in action

By Contributor|2023-08-14T09:36:17-05:00August 14, 2023|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: cameras, courtroom access, federal court|0 Comments

It's time to allow cameras in federal courts, arguably the most powerful branch of government. Media reports about what happens in federal courts are incomplete and merely an interpretation of by reporters. Allowing TV cameras in courts would allow the public to directly see how judicial branch decisions are made.

21 Jun, 2023

Commission on court rules in Tennessee opens meetings to public after federal court order
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Commission on court rules in Tennessee opens meetings to public after federal court order

Open Courts, Open Meetings

Commission on court rules in Tennessee opens meetings to public after federal court order

By Deborah Fisher|2023-06-21T13:36:59-05:00June 21, 2023|Categories: Open Courts, Open Meetings|Tags: Administrative Office of the Courts, Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice & Procedure, Buck Dougherty, Center Square, court access, First Amendment, Liberty Justice Center, Tennessee Judicial Conference|0 Comments

In a victory for transparency that we should all hopes sticks, an advisory commission that recommends court rules on practices and procedures has started holding meetings open to the public. The open meetings are the result of a federal lawsuit and an order by the judge that said the First Amendment right of access to court proceedings likely requires the meetings to be open.