Washington D.C., Jan 14, 2010 / 18:14 pm
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the trial challenging California’s Proposition 8 may not be broadcast, saying concerns about harassment are “substantiated.” The court ruled that the decision to broadcast the hearings did not comply with federal law and that “irreparable harm” would likely result.
Last week Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the proceedings on the trial challenging the voter-approved traditional marriage initiative could be uploaded at regular intervals to YouTube. Defenders of Prop. 8, which in 2008 restored the definition of marriage to be exclusively between a man and a woman, have said the broadcasts could expose their witnesses to further harassment and intimidation.
In the Jan. 13 “per curiam” document issuing its stay, the U.S. Supreme Court said the broadcast should not proceed because the lower courts apparently did not follow appropriate procedures according to federal law in changing their rules to allow the broadcast.
The District Court tried to change its rules “at the eleventh hour” to treat the case differently than other trials in the district.