CNS v. Yamasaki
Courthouse News Service (CNS) challenged the policy of the Orange County court clerk of “processing” unlimited civil complaints before releasing them to the public. CNS argued that it has a constitutional right to timely access the complaints prior to processing. The court tentatively denied CNS’s request to enjoin the clerk’s delays and asked for further briefing on issues including CNS’s business model, such as its subscribers and profits. The Reporters Committee and 13 other media organizations argued that prompt access to civil complaints before processing benefits the public because timeliness affects newsworthiness, promotes more accurate reporting, and promotes public understanding of the matters occupying the courts’ dockets. The amici also argued that a news organization’s for-profit status does not change the fundamental importance of the First Amendment right of access to judicial proceedings and records.