Allied Daily Newspapers v. Eikenberry

This case presents a challenge raised by a number of press organizations to the constitutionality of section 9 of Substitute House Bill 2348 (the Act or SHB 2348), Laws of 1992, ch. 188, § 9. Section 9 requires courts to ensure that information identifying child victims of sexual assault is not disclosed to the public or press dining the course of judicial proceedings or in any court records. We hold that section 9 is unconstitutional because it violates the right of open access to judicial proceedings, as guaranteed under article 1, section 10 of the Washington State Constitution.

I

The…