The non profit Our Nevada Judges is seeking to remove the total secrecy surrounding a family trust court dispute for the future of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire scheduled to proceed in the Washoe County Second Judicial Court in September, saying that’s illegal.
A suit the non profit has on its website and filed August 16th requests that the court “bring the case file into compliance with SRCR 3(5)(c) so that the public and press can independently monitor it.”
It indicates SRCR 3(5)(c) states that “Under no circumstances shall the court seal an entire court file.”
“Our Nevada Judges has filed a request to deploy high-definition cameras and this request has been submitted and is pending,” the lawsuit goes on.
“ONJ can only assume that the extensive seal imposed in this case directed the clerk to refuse to disclose not only the hearing dates and times, but also the existence of the case entirely, and the names of counsel of record and the parties, as none of this information is publicly available for this case. If so, the sealing order unconstitutionally interferes with press access to the courtroom and violates SRCR 3(5)(c).”
Court records identify Murdoch as Doe with an evidentiary hearing scheduled on September 20th at 9 A.M. with Probate Commissioner Edmund Gorman overseeing the case.
The lawsuit was first reported on locally by This is Reno. The attorney filing for Our Nevada Judges, Luke Busby, represents This Is Reno in public records litigation.
On a social media post Our Nevada Judges had a screenshot quoting Court Administrator Alicia Lerud indicating : “Any public information related to this matter can now be located at https://www.washoecourts.com/AttendingCourt/NotableCase. At this time, any information not provided on this page is sealed pursuant to court order.”
As reported in the New York Times in July, the 93-year-old media mogul abruptly changed the terms of the family trust to guarantee his conservative ally and eldest son Lachlan would remain in charge of his media empire, pitting him against three siblings in the dispute.
According to the Times, the three others who are more politically moderate than Lachlan and their father, are being represented by Gary A. Bornstein. The elder Murdoch is being represented by Adam Streisand, a trial lawyer who has been involved in estate disputes involving Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.
Murdoch owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and major conservative newspapers and television networks in Britain and Australia.
The New York Times reported “Nevada is a popular state for dynastic family trusts because of its favorable probate laws and privacy protections.”