SPJ: Phoenix, Arizona Chapter

Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

SPJ’s Legal Defense Fund Committee has approved $1,500 in support for the Utah Headliners Chapter of SPJ as part of a broader effort to protect public access to court proceedings in the prosecution of the suspect charged in the killing of commentator Charlie Kirk, the Society said in a Feb. 2 statement. 

The funds will help a Utah-based media coalition that is challenging efforts to seal court records or restrict access in the criminal case against Tyler Robinson, whom authorities allege fatally shot Kirk on Sept. 10, according to the statement. The coalition filed a motion on Oct. 30 asserting the constitutional right of the press and public to observe judicial proceedings and opposing unnecessary secrecy in the case.

The filing — submitted by the Utah Headliners Chapter of SPJ, Deseret News, Deseret Digital Media Inc. (doing business as KSL.com), KSL NewsRadio, KUTV 2News, KSTU Fox13 and the Utah News Dispatch — cites Society of Professional Journalists v. Bullock (1987), a Utah Supreme Court decision affirming that courts must weigh the press and public’s constitutional right of access before closing proceedings or restricting coverage. 

SPJ issued a statement Nov. 10 calling for full transparency in the prosecution and emphasizing that open judicial proceedings are essential to public trust. Access for journalists, SPJ said, promotes accountability, accuracy and confidence in the justice system.

“The press serves as the public’s eyes and ears in the courtroom,” said SPJ LDF Committee Chair and Valley of the Sun (Phoenix) chapter President Tim Eigo. “When journalists are restricted from observing and reporting on judicial proceedings, it undermines public confidence in the administration of justice.”

Read the entire SPJ statement here. Learn more about SPJ’s work to defend press freedom or support the Legal Defense Fund.