Ohio Supreme Court agrees judge in contempt

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CINCINNATI (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court agreed Fridaythat a southwest Ohio juvenile court judge
is in contempt for barring anewspaper’s reporters from her courtroom.The court upheld anappellate court’s
finding against Hamilton County Judge Tracie Hunter.The conflict had begun over The Cincinnati Enquirer’s
coverage of sixteens charged in 2012 with badly beating a man in suburban North CollegeHill.Hunter began
banning Enquirer reporters because the newspaper used juveniles’ names in coverage.TheOhio 1st District
Court of Appeals ruled to allow Enquirer reportersinto the courtroom while both sides were making legal
arguments on theissue, but Hunter said that The Enquirer’s access would be conditionalon not publishing the
defendants’ names. The newspaper called that anunconstitutional prior restraint of First Amendment press
freedom rightsand argued that the appellate court’s ruling gave it access withoutconditions.The appellate
court agreed, finding Hunter in contemptin July. The judge appealed, saying she was following juvenile
courtrules and denying she was in contempt."Judge Hunter would havethe court excuse her noncompliance
on the grounds that she was unclearas to what was required," the Supreme Court ruling stated.But
thecourt said that it appeared that Hunter understood what the appellatecourt was ordering, "so her
statement to the contrary is nothing morethan a declaration of defiance."Hunter didn’t immediately
return acall for comment Friday. She could face judicial penalties if shedoesn’t comply with the appellate
court’s ruling against barringreporters."Certainly, we feel vindicated in our position," saidJack
Greiner, attorney for The Enquirer. "There was no basis to kick ourreporter out, and we felt we needed
to address that … It wasinappropriate."___Contact the reporter at http://www.twitter.com/dansewellCopyright
2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.

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