Question 1

The Supreme Court first ruled that the presence of cameras does not necessarily violate the defendant's right to a fair trial in what case?

Accepted Answer

Chandler v. Florida (1981) is the case where the Supreme Court ruled that the presence of cameras in the courtroom does not necessarily violate the defendant's right to a fair trial, establishing that states could allow televised coverage of court proceedings under certain circumstances.

Question 2

In what case did the First Circuit say that a district judge had no authority to allow a case in her courtroom to be webcast?

Accepted Answer

In re Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the case where the First Circuit held that a district judge did not have the authority to allow a case in her courtroom to be webcast. This decision underscored the judiciary's cautious approach towards broadcasting courtroom proceedings, emphasizing the potential impact on the fairness of the trial process.

Question 3

In Sheppard v.Maxwell,the Supreme Court urged judges to control prejudicial publicity by:

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court urged judges to control prejudicial publicity by using all of the listed options - sequestering juries, granting continuances, issuing protective orders, and granting changes of venue - in order to ensure a fair trial. Each of these methods may be appropriate in different circumstances, depending on the specific case and the nature of the publicity involved. Therefore, judges should be willing to consider and utilize any or all of these options as needed to limit the potential impact of prejudicial publicity on a case.

Question 4

Prejudicial publicity problems sometimes result from the reporting of:

Accepted Answer

Prejudicial publicity can stem from reporting on involuntary confessions, a defendant's prior criminal record, test results that may not be admissible in court, and hearsay evidence, as all these elements can bias public perception and potentially affect the fairness of a trial.

Question 5

In which state did the state highest court decline a filmmaker's request for an audio "room recording," when the court reporter's room recording was not the official record of the trial and thus not a public record?

Accepted Answer

In Massachusetts, the state supreme court declined a filmmaker's request for an audio "room recording" because the court reporter's room recording was not the official record of the trial and thus not a public record. The court ruled that the only official record is the one made by the court reporter and maintained by the clerk's office.

Question 6

The Supreme Court has held that judges should not ordinarily issue "gag" orders that apply directly to the media,as opposed to orders that limit what trial participants may tell the media.The case:

Accepted Answer

The case of Nebraska Press Assn. v. Stuart established that prior restraints on media coverage of criminal trials, such as a gag order, are generally unconstitutional. The court held that such orders are only permissible in exceptional circumstances where the First Amendment values are outweighed by a compelling government interest, and there is no alternative means of protecting that interest. Therefore, judges should not ordinarily issue gag orders that apply directly to the media.

Question 7

In what state did the state supreme court bar cameras from the sentencing of a college lacrosse player for the murder of his ex-girlfriend?

Accepted Answer

The state supreme court that barred cameras from the sentencing of the college lacrosse player for the murder of his ex-girlfriend was Virginia.

Question 8

The Supreme Court in Hollingsworth v.Perry said that the _______ trial could not be televised or broadcast on YouTube.

Accepted Answer

Hollingsworth v. Perry was a case related to California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. The Supreme Court ruled that the trial could not be televised or broadcast on YouTube. Therefore, the correct choice is C - Proposition 8. The other options (A) Branzburg, (B) Guantánamo Bay, (D) Skilling, and (E) Madoff, are not related to this case.

Question 9

In Courtroom TV Network v.New York,New York's highest court held that:

Accepted Answer

New York's highest court held that New York's ban on cameras in the courtroom is not unconstitutional, affirming the state's discretion to limit cameras to protect the integrity of the court proceedings and the rights of the parties involved.

Question 10

The California Supreme Court ruled that civil trials must usually be open to the press and public in what case?

Accepted Answer

The case NBC Subsidiary v. Superior Court dealt with the issue of whether or not the public and press have a right to access civil trials. The California Supreme Court ruled that civil trials must usually be open to the press and public, with very limited exceptions.

Question 11

In the criminal case involving Martha Stewart,a federal appellate court ruled that:

Accepted Answer

The federal appellate court ruled that most of the jury selection process should have been open, emphasizing the importance of transparency and the public's right to access in the judicial process.

Question 12

In the 1986 Riverside Press?Enterprise v.Superior Court case (Press-Enterprise II),the Supreme Court held that:

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court held that preliminary hearings may be closed to the public only when there is a "substantial probability" that an open hearing would produce prejudicial publicity and closing the hearing would actually prevent the publicity. This standard is more stringent than the "reasonable likelihood" standard established in Press-Enterprise I.

Question 13

The free press-fair trial controversy stems from a conflict between the guarantee of a free press in the First Amendment and the right of the accused to a trial before impartial jurors,set forth in:

Accepted Answer

The conflict between the guarantee of a free press and the right of the accused to a fair trial before impartial jurors is addressed in the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, the right to be confronted with witnesses, and the right to have the assistance of counsel for defense. This amendment ensures that the defendant receives a fair trial while at the same time protecting the rights of the press to keep the public informed about the trial proceedings.

Question 14

The Supreme Court overturned a state law that required the courtroom to be closed whenever a minor victim of a sex crime was testifying.The case?

Accepted Answer

Globe Newspaper Co.v.Superior Court was a landmark case in 1984 in which the Supreme Court held that the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press prohibited a trial judge from ordering the exclusion of the press and the public from a criminal trial. The case specifically involved a state law that required the courtroom to be closed whenever a minor victim of a sex crime was testifying, which the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional.

Question 15

The jury selection process should normally be conducted in an open courtroom,according to the U.S.Supreme Court's ruling in:

Accepted Answer

The correct ruling is Press-Enterprise v.Superior Court (Press-Enterprise I), which established that the public and the press have a right to access certain stages of the criminal justice process, including the jury selection process. The other cases listed are not relevant to this issue.

Question 16

The Supreme Court first ruled that criminal trials must usually be open to the press and public in what case?

Accepted Answer

In the case of Richmond Newspapers v. Virginia (1980), the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment guarantees the public a right of access to criminal trials. This decision held that criminal trials must usually be open to the press and public, unless the judge decides that closure is necessary to protect an overriding interest.

Question 17

The Supreme Court once ordered a new trial for a man convicted of murder in a case where some of the jurors admitted they were prejudiced because of sensational pretrial publicity.The prosecutor,who was running for re-election,issued an inflammatory press release,aggravating the problem.The case?

Accepted Answer

Irvin v. Dowd is the case where the Supreme Court ordered a new trial due to prejudiced jurors influenced by pretrial publicity.

Quiz 7: Fair Trial-Free Press Conflicts