According to the Courier-Journal, lawyers for Paxton Media Group, which owns WPSD-TV, The Paducah Sun and The Marshall County Tribune-Courier, have filed a petition with the Kentucky Court of Appeals. They are asking for the transcript of Friday's arraignment of 15-year-old shooting suspect Gabe Parker to be released to the public. He was arraigned on two counts of murder and 14 counts of 1st degree assault.
The Courier-Journal says the petition alleges that "Marshall Circuit Judge Jamie Jameson is 'personally acquainted' with Parker’s mother and improperly closed his arraignment; sought to stop a police interview of Parker; and appointed a public defender for him before he had jurisdiction in the case."
Jameson didn't respond when asked to comment, but said in a court filing that documents should stay confidential because Parker's attorneys claim he was improperly transferred to Circuit Court, which lacks jurisdiction. He also said lawyers from both sides agreed at the arraignment that only the indictment would be made public.
PMG Attorney Jon Fleischaker countered by saying,"The parties by agreed order can't deprive the public and the press the right to know what is going on."
According to The Courier-Journal, PMG claims the indictment of Parker on adult charges should have opened the arraignment hearing to the public, but Jameson denied them access and withheld transcripts.
A hearing date on the petition has not been set in the Court of Appeals.
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Source Article by The Courier-Journal
