King et al v. Whitmer et al

Filing 153

OPINION and ORDER re #152 Emergency MOTION Issue an order authorizing the public release of the video of the July 12, 2021 Sanctions Hearing. Signed by District Judge Linda V. Parker. (AFla)

Case 2:20-cv-13134-LVP-RSW ECF No. 153, PageID.5294 Filed 07/14/21 Page 1 of 2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
TIMOTHY KING, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.

Case No. 20-13134
Honorable Linda V. Parker

GRETCHEN WHITMER, et al.,
Defendants,
and
CITY OF DETROIT,
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
COMMITTEE and MICHIGAN
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, and
ROBERT DAVIS,
Intervenor-Defendants.
______________________________/
OPINION AND ORDER
On July 14, 2021, counsel for Plaintiffs’ counsel filed an emergency motion
asking the Court to release the video of the July 12 hearing in this matter. (ECF
No. 152.) Counsel argues that “[t]hroughout our history, the open courtroom has
been a fundamental feature of the American judicial system.” (Id. at Pg ID 5286
(quoting Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. v. FTC, 710 F.2d 1165, 1177 (6th
Cir. 1983).) The Court in fact threw the virtual doors to the July 12 proceeding
wide open—far wider than could have been accommodated had the hearing been

Case 2:20-cv-13134-LVP-RSW ECF No. 153, PageID.5295 Filed 07/14/21 Page 2 of 2

conducted in person. As counsel notes in the motion, more than 13,000 people
watched live, “viewing the proceedings just as they were conducted.” (ECF No.
152 at Pg ID 5287.) As to counsel’s suggestion that the video is needed to prepare
a supplement brief, attorneys routinely prepare such briefs following a hearing
without video or audio recordings of the proceedings and often without a
transcript.
For these reasons,
IT IS ORDERED that the emergency motion (ECF No. 152) is DENIED.

s/ Linda V. Parker
LINDA V. PARKER
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: July 14, 2021

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