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A recap of the upcoming meetings scheduled for the FOIA Council & its subcommittees. Click here for more details on the subcommittees and the agendas.
May 21 at 10 p.m. remedies subcommittee
May 21 at 1:30 p.m. records subcommittee (data collection)
June 4 at 10 a.m. remedies subcommittee
June 5 at 10 a.m. meetings subcommittee
June 27 at 10 .m. records subcommittee (trade secrets)
July 18 at 10 a.m. meetings subcommittee
Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. records subcommittee (custodians)
Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. meetings subcommittee
Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. full council
Except for 8/22, all meetings will be held in the Pocahontas Building. The Aug. 22 meetings will be in the Capitol.
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Overriding objections from both the prosecution and the defense, a Bedford County judge on Tuesday granted a motion by The News & Advance and other Central Virginia media outlets to allow cameras in the courtroom during the capital murder trial of an alleged MS-13 gang member. Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance and defense attorney Neil Horn both argued allowing still photography and video of the proceedings would place those involved, especially witnesses, in danger of retaliation by MS-13. Nance said “numerous witnesses” have voiced concerns about testifying but have not refused to testify. Attorneys David Lacy, representing The News & Advance, and John Falcone, representing four TV news stations, both said they did not want to minimize Nance’s safety concerns. Noting the court had other measures it could take in allowing cameras in the courtroom, Lacy asked Updike not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” by banning all cameras outright. Under Virginia law, presiding judges may permit cameras in the courtroom with a few caveats — for instance, cameras can’t capture footage of police informants or jurors in a case, two groups defense attorney Neil Horn voiced concern over in coverage of his client’s case. Updike said one benefit he’s found to allowing cameras in the courtroom is court proceedings are “much more orderly.”
The News & Advance
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