Judges order 2 Pa. newspapers to delete stories; 1 later reverses course, citing free speech
By APTuesday, July 6, 2010
Judges order 2 Pa. newspapers to delete stories
BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania judge who ordered two newspapers to delete archived stories about three defendants whose cases were resolved has rescinded the order. But another judge’s order covering two other defendants is still pending.
Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford cited free-speech concerns in signing new orders Monday directing only public agencies to clear records for the three. That’s typical when charges are dismissed, withdrawn or otherwise not applicable for first-time offenders who complete remediation.
Initial orders had asked the Centre Daily Times and the student newspaper at Penn State to take the unusual step of expunging their records of information.
The attorney tells the Times that First Amendment rights were trumping his clients’ rights for cleared records.
