ACLU Writes to Judge About Not Allowing Writing Utensils, Paper in Court

The ACLU of Colorado received complaints that on Sunday morning, November 13, 2011, at the first court appearance of Occupy Denver protesters who were arrested the night before, Magistrate John Hoffman refused to allow reporters and members of the press to bring paper, notebooks, or any type of writing utensils into the courtroom. Westword reporter Kelsey Whipple reported that she was forbidden to take notes during the court proceeding. In a November 16 letter to Presiding Judge John Marcucci, the ACLU of Colorado protested this violation of First Amendment rights.

“Occupy Denver: ACLU reacts to restriction against recording during court appearances,” Westword, November 18, 2011