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September 22, 2004
In Local News
Because there are at least 10 people I can count on this hand from around here who visit this interweb log somewhat regularly, I'm going to start posting local news of a national interest. Sadly, most of this news will come from Nebraska's two pathetic newspapers, the Omaha Weird-Harold and the Lincoln Urinal-Star. Maybe the Kearney Hub and Grand Island Independent will squeak in on occasion, but unless someone sends me tips from the Scottsbluff Star-Herald or North Platte Telegraph (seriously, let the Telegraph go. It's so 1890's.), it'll be mostly urban state news.
Here's something skewed towards the law student.
Paper may print name in Commandments case, judge says
from the Omaha World-Herald.A federal judge refused Tuesday to prohibit The World-Herald from publishing the name of a Plattsmouth man who has sued the city over a Ten Commandments monument.
U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf directed sharp questions at attorneys for both the ACLU and The World-Herald before deciding not to restrict the newspaper from printing the man's name.
I side with Judge Kopf here. This case has been in the federal courts for over four years and the odds on the plaintiff's name not being public are pretty long. Also, I've worked in a plaintiff's firm for awhile now, and it's quite difficult to get a judge to allow a plaintiff to file as a Doe now, no matter what.
Remember, Kopf isn't just some Roy Moore sympathizer. In the last four years he has struck down both a state and federal late-term abortion ban.
I cannot, however, fault the Nebraska ACLU and Amy Miller for advocating for their client to the fullest extent. Judge Kopf said as much. "Kopf applauded the ACLU for upholding its ethical duty to represent its client, even if that seemed to compromise its commitment to free expression."
The 1st Amendment is the thing here. The ACLU put themselves in a bad position by advocating against a newspaper printing something it has discovered in the course of its work. Of course, the Nebraska ACLU is just representing their client, not working off of some ACLU worksheet.
I'm sure Amy Miller knew she was in a losing position here, and perhaps reached a bit when she said that the World-Herald had publicly criticized their client before so they are "putting a target on his back" by naming him.
This case was filed almost four years ago. The people of Plattsmouth know who he is by now. Four years ago, when the suit was first filed, it was a good move by the court to keep the plaintiff anonymous as tempers in Plattsmouth were rising over the city's right to keep a giant stone statute in a public park. Now things have cooled off. The plaintiff might get a few threatening emails from freepers, but then again, who hasn't.
Posted by Half-Cocked at September 22, 2004 12:38 AM
Comments
The Herald has been gunning for this guy this whole time. Printing his name just seems mean. But that's the Herald, they've always been a bit mean.
phat
Posted by: phat-ass at September 22, 2004 06:49 PM
What about the Nebraska State Paper?
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v
I like it.
Posted by: Eric at September 22, 2004 08:20 PM
State Paper, too. I rediscover it every few months or so. Julee reminded me about it most recently. The best part of it though, is Bob Valentine's rants. I sure am glad he moved to the promised land.
Posted by: Steve at September 22, 2004 09:42 PM
Does the state paper exist in hard copy? Or just on the Internet?
Posted by: Eric at September 22, 2004 10:37 PM
Internet only as far as I can tell. It's intended aim is something similar to Polstate only on a local level so the internet is the only way to really make it work. I need to make sure and read it more often.
Posted by: Steve at September 22, 2004 10:46 PM
Funny thing. Robert Valentine was at my wedding reception.
phat
Posted by: phat at September 23, 2004 12:36 AM
i think it is funny how he keeps saying we're trashing america, and how we're stamping on western thought and history when we are against the 10 commandments. what i don't understand is why does he keep posting to the nebraska state paper if he's so happy in utah?
Posted by: julee at September 23, 2004 02:23 PM