From The News-Banner (Bluffton):
Q: Whomever processes court documents for our local Superior Court and Circuit Court are treating them differently. One does not redact the perpetrator’s birthdate and address; the other has just recently begun to do that. What can clerks redact?
A: There is no reason to delete ages or addresses of those being charged with crimes. The Supreme Court’s Administrative Rule 9 calls for confidentiality for addresses and birth dates of witnesses or crime victims but not the person arrested. Ask them for the legal basis for the redaction.
I don’t think they’ll be able to give you an Indiana code citation. If they do, relay it to me and I’ll take a look at it.
Contact Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel, with media law questions at skey@hspa.com or (317) 624-4427.
