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http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010213/us/yosemite_homicides_4.html
Court Rules on Yosemite Coverage
By BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press Writer
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Mariposa Superior Court officials on Monday reversed a policy requiring criminal
background checks for reporters covering the trial of a man accused of murdering three tourists at Yosemite
National Park.
The court withdrew the requirement after news organizations and a public interest group said it violated press
freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, said Michael Berest, the court's executive officer.
The policy required background checks for members of the new media but not the general public planning to
attend the trial of Cary Stayner.
The policy went unchallenged until The Associated Press refused to comply last week. That move was followed
by complaints from newspaper editors, media lawyers and the California First Amendment Coalition, a group
concerned with open government, free speech and free press issues.
By Thursday, 16 reporters had passed the criminal background checks. About 30 others were pending, said
Lt. Brian Muller of the sheriff's office.
The policy was suspended Friday while court officials reconsidered the measure, which was intended to
improve security in the 147-year-old courthouse.
Stayner, who is serving a life sentence for killing naturalist Joie Armstrong, also is charged with murdering three
tourists visiting the park two years ago. No trial date has been set.
Carole Sund, 42, her daughter, Juli, 15, and their friend, Silvina Pelosso, 16, disappeared while staying on the
outskirts of the park at a lodge where Stayner worked as a handyman. Their bodies were found a month later.
{end quote)
Apparently a reporter having to pass 1 criminal background chack is an infringment, but a gun owner having 4 or 5 or more checks per year is not.
Court Rules on Yosemite Coverage
By BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press Writer
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Mariposa Superior Court officials on Monday reversed a policy requiring criminal
background checks for reporters covering the trial of a man accused of murdering three tourists at Yosemite
National Park.
The court withdrew the requirement after news organizations and a public interest group said it violated press
freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, said Michael Berest, the court's executive officer.
The policy required background checks for members of the new media but not the general public planning to
attend the trial of Cary Stayner.
The policy went unchallenged until The Associated Press refused to comply last week. That move was followed
by complaints from newspaper editors, media lawyers and the California First Amendment Coalition, a group
concerned with open government, free speech and free press issues.
By Thursday, 16 reporters had passed the criminal background checks. About 30 others were pending, said
Lt. Brian Muller of the sheriff's office.
The policy was suspended Friday while court officials reconsidered the measure, which was intended to
improve security in the 147-year-old courthouse.
Stayner, who is serving a life sentence for killing naturalist Joie Armstrong, also is charged with murdering three
tourists visiting the park two years ago. No trial date has been set.
Carole Sund, 42, her daughter, Juli, 15, and their friend, Silvina Pelosso, 16, disappeared while staying on the
outskirts of the park at a lodge where Stayner worked as a handyman. Their bodies were found a month later.
{end quote)
Apparently a reporter having to pass 1 criminal background chack is an infringment, but a gun owner having 4 or 5 or more checks per year is not.