Doe v. Haley et al

Filing 209

ORDER granting 205 Motion to use children's names at trial. Signed by Honorable G Ross Anderson, Jr on 3/18/14.(alew, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ANDERSON/GREENWOOD DIVISION
John Doe, minor child, by and through
his Guardian, Jane Doe,
Plaintiff,
v.
Nikki Haley, et al.,
Defendants.

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C/A No.: 8:13-cv-01772-GRA

ORDER
(Written Opinion)

This matter comes before this Court on Plaintiff’s Informative Motion and
Request for Guidance. ECF No. 205. After a thorough review of the arguments
made in Plaintiff’s Motion, this Court finds that the parties should use children’s real
names, rather than pseudonyms or initials, for all purposes at trial, including video
depositions and live witness testimony. This will avoid jury confusion and needless
time and expense required to redact video depositions. The privacy of these children
is protected under S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-730, which provides punishment for the
publication of the names of children who are named at trial as victims of sexual
abuse.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that children’s real names shall be used for all
purposes at trial.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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March 18 , 2014
Anderson, South Carolina

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