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TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2002

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that the Department of Justice cannot close immigration hearings to the public.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said the secret hearings violate the First Amendment. "Democracies die behind closed doors," the court wrote. "The First Amendment, through a free press, protects the people's right to know that their government acts fairly, lawfully, and accurately in deportation proceedings."

The ruling affects deportation proceedings. The Bush administration had closed them off through a September 21, 2001, order.

Get the Story:
Court Calls For Open Detainee Hearings (The Washington Post 8/27)
Court denies closed hearing for terror-financing suspect (AP 8/27)
Court Backs Open Deportation Hearings in Terror Cases (The New York Times 8/27)
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Get the Case:
DETROIT FREE PRESS v. ASHCROFT, No. 02-1437 (6th Cir. August 26, 2002)