Freedom of Press Still Alive in Dover District Court

[DoverExposure]

"No cameras in the courtroom."  Those were the words uttered by courthouse security when a local videographer brought a video camera to Dover District Court on February 9, 2009.  There to cover the trial of Dover resident Cynthia Ouellette, Ridley Report affiliated videographer David Montenegro was prevented by security staff from bringing even a single camera into the courthouse.

Montenegro, who writes for the New Hampshire Independent Media Center, the New Hampshire Free Press, and the Ridley Report, challenged the court's practice, filing a thirteen-page memorandum, a three-page motion, a two-page petition, and a press portfolio (in a pear tree) with Dover District Court.

On May 21, 2009, during a pre-trial hearing on State v. Montenegro, District Court Judge Stephen Roberts granted Montenegro's motion for media access, allowing him to record both the hearing and upcoming trial, currently scheduled for June 11.

Though the Dover police department's prosecutor, Brian Estee, objected to the motion, this isn't the first time the Dover police have tried to silence Montenegro.  Last November, Montenegro was arrested while hosting an information table in downtown Dover, on the topic of police corruption.  Despite having had a permit for the display, and having shown the permit to the police, Montenegro was nevertheless arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

By stark contrast, this latest ruling by Judge Roberts gives great cause for hope.  As the ruling demonstrates, the First Amendment is still alive and kicking in Dover---at least within the walls of the Dover district courthouse.

See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOf-__sDpu8.

[Russell Kanning]

cool

[Becky Thatcher]

  Indeed.

[Atlas]

That's fantastic!