Jeffers et al v. Beebe et al

Filing 66

ORDER REGARDING COURTROOM AND MEDIA PROTOCOL for Trial scheduled for May 7, 2012 in Helena. Signed by Chief Judge J. Leon Holmes on 4/23/12. (vjt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HELENA DIVISION
FUTURE MAE JEFFERS; MARY JEFFERS;
HENRY PEACOCK; SHIRLEY HARVELL;
REV. RONALD WILLIAMS; PEGGY R. WRIGHT;
LAURA LOVE; FRANK SHAW; C.W. CAMPBELL;
LEO CHITMAN; ETTA CAMPBELL; PLEZ LUCAS;
VICKIE ROBERTSON; JOSEPH PERRY; ELBERT SMITH;
SANDRA BAGLEY; NIKKI DISMUKE; ALICE W. VALLEY;
LAKETHA BROWN FLUKER; KATRINA HARRELL;
CHESTER HARRELL; EDDIE O’NEAL; CHRISTOPHER
FRANKLIN; and JACK BERNARD CRUMBLY
v.

PLAINTIFFS

No. 2:12CV00016 JLH

MIKE BEEBE, in his capacity as Governor of Arkansas
and Chairman of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment;
MARK MARTIN, in his capacity as Secretary of State
of Arkansas and as a member of the Arkansas Board
of Apportionment; DUSTIN MCDANIEL, in his
capacity as Attorney General of Arkansas and a member
of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment; and
ARKANSAS BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
COURTROOM AND MEDIA PROTOCOL
The purpose of this Order is to ensure an orderly trial that is open to the public to the extent
possible in light of the space limitations of the courtroom. To do so, the following rules will be in
effect during the trial.
1.

Except for court personnel and as stated below, no one will bring into the courtroom

any laptop computers, beepers, walkie-talkies, cellular telephones, electronic transmitting equipment,
or any other noise-generating electronic or mechanical devices.
2.

Attorneys may bring into the courtroom electronic devices pursuant to and subject to

the restrictions in General Order No. 54.

3.

In accordance with the Local Rules of the Eastern District of Arkansas, duly identified

and authorized representatives of the media may discreetly make audiotapes during trial and hearings
in open court solely for the purpose of assuring the accuracy of reports. See Local Rule 83.2(d),
Rules of the United States District court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. A
violation of this rule will likely result in the revocation of this exception.
4.

Everyone must be seated before Court is opened. With the exception of limited

reserved seating for the media and parties’ counsel, seating arrangements will be open. No spectator
standing will be allowed during Court sessions.
5.

A separate section will be reserved for media representatives who will be seated on

a first-come, first-served basis. The media will be required to display their press credentials to sit in
the reserved area.
6.

All media questions should be directed to the Clerk of Court, i.e., please do not call

the Judge’s chambers for information.
7.

The parties should make one copy of each exhibit for the media. Members of the

media will then arrange among themselves for mutual access to the exhibits.
8.

Although circumstances may require departures from time to time, the following

schedule is planned:
Court convenes:

9:00 a.m.

Morning Recess:

10:30 a.m. (15 minute recess)

Lunch Recess:

12:15 - 1:30 p.m.

Afternoon Recess:

3:15 p.m. (15 minute recess)

Court Adjourns:

5:15 p.m.

2

Every effort will be made to keep the schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. However, if it
is necessary to go later in the evenings so that all of the evidence can be received within one week,
the Court will do so, except on Friday. The trial will conclude no later than 5:15 p.m., on Friday,
May 11, 2012. The lawyers are reminded that they must cooperate with one another and the Court
to ensure that the trial is completed on time.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 23rd day of April, 2012.

J. LEON HOLMES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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