DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE NORFOLK DISTRICT v. JUSTICES OF THE QUINCY DISTRICT COURT; ANTHONY BENEDETTI, CHIEF COUNSEL, COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL SERVICES v. JUSTICES OF THE QUINCY DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH | Nos. SJ-2012-306, SJ-2012-308 | Mass. July 27, 2012
The Cyberlaw Clinic and co-counsel at Boston University’s Office of General Counsel submitted this memorandum to Single Justice Botsford of the Mass SJC on behalf of WBUR’s OpenCourt project in connection with two related actions commenced by the Norfolk District Attorney and the Committee for Public Counsel Services. The cases challenged the right and ability of the Justices of the Quincy District Court to permit OpenCourt to livestream, record, and archive trial proceedings in Quincy. Justice Botsford heard oral argument on August 9, 2012 from representatives of the Norfolk DA and CPCS, a representative from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office (appearing on behalf of the Quincy Justices), and Cyberlaw Clinic Assistant Director Christopher Bavitz (appearing for OpenCourt). The Court issued a Memorandum and Judgment on August 14, 2012, ruling in favor of the Justices of the Quincy District Court and permitting OpenCourt to move forward with its coverage trial proceedings in Quincy.