WALB-TV, INC. v. Gibson

In my opinion, this case evidences no reversible abuse of that discretion which a trial court is authorized to exercise in determining whether to allow the electronic media in the courtroom during a trial. Therefore, I concur fully in the majority’s affirmance of the denial of WALE-TV’S request for such access to the trial of Karen Eckman, but respectfully dissent to the majority’s reversal of the denial of the request as to the trial of William Lematty.

As the majority correctly notes, there is a significant difference between a complete exclusion of the media from a courtroom, and a mere…