KPNX BROADCASTING CO. Et Al. v. ARIZONA SUPERIOR COURT Et Al.
Headline: Justice denies emergency block, leaving judge free to limit direct media contact with trial participants and require court review of television juror sketches, affecting reporters and broadcasters covering the trial.
Holding: The Court refused to temporarily block the trial judge’s orders, so limits on direct press contact and prior review of TV juror sketches remain in place while state court review proceeds.
- Allows judges to bar direct media contact with trial participants during proceedings.
- Permits courts to require approval before TV juror sketches are broadcast.
- Press may still attend and report everything said or shown in open court.
Summary
Background
A television station, several reporters, and courtroom sketch artists are covering a high-profile murder trial in Maricopa County, Arizona. The case has produced two earlier trials, attracted extensive publicity, and made some potential jurors fearful for their safety. The trial judge appointed a court employee as a media liaison and issued two orders: one barring court personnel, lawyers, witnesses, and jurors from speaking directly with the press; the other requiring television sketches of jurors to be submitted to the judge for approval before broadcast. The trial itself has remained open to the public.
Reasoning
The immediate question was whether to block those orders while Arizona’s courts review them. Justice Rehnquist declined to grant emergency relief. He reasoned that the orders do not close the trial or stop the press from reporting on what happens in open court. He relied on earlier cases saying judges may take steps to protect a defendant’s right to a fair jury, and concluded that restricting outside contacts can be a reasonable, less disruptive measure. Rehnquist said the prior-review rule for TV sketches is troubling because it resembles a prior restraint, but he found the trial court had sought alternatives and the state court review was imminent.
Real world impact
For now, reporters and artists must follow the judge’s rules: they can attend and report on open proceedings but cannot obtain direct interviews with participants during court sessions, and television juror sketches may need prior approval. This ruling is a temporary denial of emergency relief, not a final decision on the constitutionality of the restrictions; the Arizona courts will address the legal merits later.
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