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Federal Bar Association Northern District of California Chapter

This letter expresses support from the Federal Bar Association Northern District of California Chapter for revisions to the local rules that allow a limited pilot program for cameras in federal courtrooms. The letter notes that the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit unanimously approved the pilot program to test whether cameras can improve public access to court proceedings. The letter states that public access to federal courts is a bedrock principle and constitutional right, and the pilot program will help evaluate if cameras can enhance public access in modern times.

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47 views2 pages

Federal Bar Association Northern District of California Chapter

This letter expresses support from the Federal Bar Association Northern District of California Chapter for revisions to the local rules that allow a limited pilot program for cameras in federal courtrooms. The letter notes that the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit unanimously approved the pilot program to test whether cameras can improve public access to court proceedings. The letter states that public access to federal courts is a bedrock principle and constitutional right, and the pilot program will help evaluate if cameras can enhance public access in modern times.

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Equality Case Files
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document399 Filed01/11/10 Page1 of 2

FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION


NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

OFFICERS

President Immediate Past President


Judith Anderson Christopher D. Sullivan
Securities and Exchange McGrane Greenfield LLP
Commission January 7, 2010 One Ferry Building, Suite
44 Montgomery Street, 220
Suite 2600 San Francisco, CA 94111
415/283-1776
San Francisco, CA
94104
The Honorable Phyllis Hamilton csullivan@
415/705-2500 Chair of the Rules Committee for the Northern District of mcgranegreenfield.com
AndersonJu@sec.gov
California HONORARY OFFICERS
Vice President,
San Francisco United States Courthouse
Gregory N. Owen The Hon. Vaughn R. Walker
Owen, Wickersham & 1301 Clay Street Chief Judge
Erickson, P.C. United States District Court
455 Market Street, Suite
Oakland, CA 94612 Northern District of
1910 California
San Francisco, CA 450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
94105 The Honorable Vaughn Walker 415/522-2000
415/882-3200
gowen@owe.com Chief Judge, Northern District of California Joseph P. Russoniello, Esq.
Vice President, United States Courthouse United States Attorney
Oakland U.S. Attorney's Office
Valerie Stewart 450 Golden Gate Avenue 450 Golden Gate Avenue,
Federal Bureau of 11th Fl.
Prisons San Francisco, CA 94102 P.O. Box 36055
7338 Shoreline Dr. San Francisco, CA 94102
Stockton, CA 95219 415/436-7200
209/956-9733
vlstewart@bop.gov
Dear Judge Hamilton and Chief Judge Walker: Barry J. Portman, Esq.
Federal Public Defender
Vice President, 450 Golden Gate Avenue,
San Jose On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Northern Rm. 17424
Jason de Bretteville P.O. Box 36105
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP District of California Chapter to the Federal Bar Association, I San Francisco, CA 94102
1870 Embarcadero Road 415/436-7700
Palo Alto, California write to express our support for the revision of Local Rule 77-3,
94303 effective December 22, 2009. The revisions to Local Rule 77-3
1-650/461-5600
debrettevillej@sullcrom.
com
are necessary and appropriate to implement the pilot program STEERING COMMITTEE

allowing, on an experimental basis, the limited use of cameras in The Hon. Laurel Beeler
Stephen Paul Berzon
Secretary/Treasurer
Asim Bhansali
Timothy K. Roake federal district courts within the circuit that was approved Martha Boersch
Gibson, Dunn & Peter Boutin
Crutcher LLP unanimously by the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit on Elizabeth Brancart
1881 Page Mill Road Elizabeth J. Cabraser
Palo Alto, CA 94304 December 17, 2009. Richard C. Darwin
650/849-5382 Bruce S. Flushman
David Fry
troake@gibsondunn.com David Girard
President Elect
The Judicial Council’s action follows a resolution Matthew Jacobs
Randall T. Kim
David H. Fry supporting the use of cameras passed by judges and lawyers Erik Khoobyarian
Rory K. Little
Munger, Tolles & Olson
LLP attending the 2007 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. We share Otis McGee
Kathleen Morris
560 Mission Street, 27th Sharon L. O’Grady
Floor the view that allowing the pilot program to move forward, subject Scott Raber
San Francisco CA 94105 Patrick Robbins
415/512-4000 to the sound discretion of the District Judges, will be useful and is Joseph P. Russoniello
David.Fry@mto.com Stephen L. Schirle
important. It will offer a basis to evaluate whether the use of Christopher Steskal
Sanford Svetcov
cameras significantly improves public access to court proceedings.
Exploring the experimental use of cameras in the courtroom will
contribute to better understanding of how federal courts can best
ensure that the right to public access is fostered in practical and
meaningful ways. Public access to federal court proceedings, with
only extremely limited exceptions, is a bedrock principle and
firmly established constitutional right. As our society changes and
public access to federal courts can be more difficult in light of
increased security concerns and numerous other factors, the
Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document399 Filed01/11/10 Page2 of 2

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