Media applauds Vt. Supreme Court in WCAX ruling

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/...cle_93c235b1-98d2-5743-b78a-6b486adf5d3e.html

MONTPELIER — Media organizations around the state are applauding the state Supreme Court’s decision to side with a media company in a public records dispute.

The case involves Nathan Giffin, who was shot and killed by police after a standoff at Montpelier High School in January 2018. News station WCAX was at the scene at the time and one of its cameras recorded the shooting.

Washington County State’s Attorney Rory Thibault sought that footage through an inquest subpoena to determine whether any officers should be charged. All of the officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing.

WCAX’s parent company, Gray Television, refused to hand the footage over so the matter went before a judge. The hearing was confidential because it was part of an active investigation, but according to court records, in February 2018, Judge Howard E. VanBenthuysen sided with the news station and denied the state’s request for the footage, citing the state’s new shield law. After the decision was made, Gray Television filed a motion asking for the decision to be made public.

VanBenthuysen denied that motion, saying because the decision was based on a confidential matter, the decision itself was confidential. Gray Television appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, saying the judge abused his discretion.

This involves how a footage from a shooting should be handled.