James v. Hines

63 S.W.3d 602, 1998 WL 514308, 1998 Ky. App. LEXIS 71
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedAugust 17, 1998
DocketNo. 1998-CA-001955-OA
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 63 S.W.3d 602 (James v. Hines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
James v. Hines, 63 S.W.3d 602, 1998 WL 514308, 1998 Ky. App. LEXIS 71 (Ky. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

HUDDLESTON, Judge.

Petitioners, attorney Michael Breen and the family members of three young girls allegedly slain by Michael Carneal, filed an original action, pursuant to Rules 76.36 and 81 of the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, asking this Court to prohibit enforcement of two orders entered by Respondent, R. Jeffrey Hines, Judge, McCracken Circuit Court, on June 24, 1998, and July 28,1998.

On June 23, 1998, petitioners held a press conference. They released a psychiatric report on Carneal, alleged that the investigation into their daughters’ deaths was inadequate, and expressed their concern that the Commonwealth would not seek the maximum penalty for Carneal. On June 24, 1998, Judge Hines, sua sponte, enjoined attorneys representing the parties in the criminal action against Carneal, persons working for these attorneys, police officers, potential witnesses, and attorneys and individuals contemplating civil litigation from releasing or authorizing the release of extraju-ducial statements related to Commonwealth v. Carneal, Indictment No. 97-CR-350. On July 28, 1998, Judge Hines signed an order which struck petitioners’ pleadings contesting the June 24, 1998, injunction and prohibited any party other than the Commonwealth of Kentucky or Carneal from filing pleadings in the criminal action without leave of court. This action followed.

Prohibition will only be granted if (1) a trial court is proceeding outside its jurisdiction and there is no adequate remedy by appeal; or (2) a trial court is proceeding within its jurisdiction, but erroneously, there is no adequate remedy by appeal, and irreparable harm or great injustice will result if no relief is obtained. Potter v. Eli Lilly and Co., Ky., 926 S.W.2d 449, 452 (1996).

Petitioners argue that prohibition is the appropriate remedy because Judge Hines is acting within his jurisdiction, but improperly. They contend the June 24,1998, order deprives them of their right to free speech and denies them due process which results in irreparable harm. Restraining free speech constitutes immediate and irreparable harm, if unauthorized. Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 559, 96 S.Ct. 2791, 2803, 49 L.Ed.2d 683, 697-98 (1976). Furthermore, a party has standing to contest an injunction constraining his actions, even if not a party to the principal action. Courier Journal v. Marshall, 828 F.2d 361, 363 (6th Cir.1987); CBS, Inc. v. Young, 522 F.2d 234, 237-38 (6th Cir.[606]*6061975). Prohibiting individuals from contesting an order that constrains their conduct removes any adequate remedy by appeal.

Petitioners first argue that Judge Hines improperly asserted jurisdiction over them because they were not before the circuit court as parties to the criminal proceeding involving Carneal. A trial court may enjoin parties, attorneys and witnesses to a case from making extrajudicial statements about that case. See Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 359, 86 S.Ct. 1507, 1520, 16 L.Ed.2d 600, 618 (1966); In Re Russell, 726 F.2d 1007, 1010 (4th Cir.1984). Petitioners concede that as families of the victims, they will likely be witnesses for the Commonwealth in the penalty phase of this trial. Therefore, petitioners are subject to the trial court’s jurisdiction, and may be enjoined by the court from making extrajudicial statements.

Petitioners next argue that the order entered on June 24, 1998, violated their right to free speech under both the United States Constitution, Amendment 11 , and the Kentucky Constitution, Section 82, and deprived them of their right to due process of law. In the June 24, 1998, order, Judge Hines enjoined dissemination of extrajudicial statements including, but not limited to:

a. The prior criminal record of the defendant [Carneal] including arrests, convictions, or other charges of crime regardless of disposition;
b. The character and reputation of the defendant;
c. The existence of the contents of any alleged confession, statement or admission made by the defendants or the failure or refusal of the defendant to make any statement;
d. The existence or non-existence of any evidence or prospective witnesses relating to the above-captioned case;
e. The identity, prospective testimony or credibility of any prospective witness;
f. The possibility or likelihood of a plea of guilty to offenses charged, or any lesser offenses whether by the defendant or a prospective witness;
g. Any opinion as to the guilt or innocence or as to the merit of the case or the evidence to be presented therein;
h. The fact of the offense and the fact that the defendant has been arrested and charged with that offense;
i. Any medical or mental health examinations or records of the defendant.

Prior restraint on speech is presumptively unconstitutional. Nebraska Press, 427 U.S. at 558-59, 96 S.Ct. at 2802, 49 L.Ed.2d at 697. Prior restraint must be supported by findings that a “clear and present danger of actual prejudice or an imminent threat” to the defendant is present. Gentile v. State Bar of Nevada, 501 U.S. 1030, 1069-71, 111 S.Ct. 2720, 2742, 115 L.Ed.2d 888, 919-21 (1991) (citations omitted). However, parties before a court may be regulated under a less demanding standard than that established in Nebraska Press. If a trial court recognizes that there is a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to the defendant, it may take measures to protect the defendant and insure a fair trial. Gentile, 501 U.S. at [607]*6071074-75, 111 S.Ct. at 2745, 115 L.Ed.2d at 923.

This case has drawn extensive national and local attention. However, “pervasive, adverse publicity does not inevitably lead to an unfair trial.” Nebraska Press, 427 U.S. at 554, 96 S.Ct. at 2800, 49 L.Ed.2d at 695. All the constitution requires is that a defendant receive a trial by an impartial jury capable of fairly considering all of the evidence before rendering a verdict on the defendant’s guilt or innocence. See Sheppard, 384 U.S. at 361, 86 S.Ct. at 1522, 16 L.Ed.2d at 613-14. Nevertheless, freedom of discussion must yield if it infringes on a defendant’s rights under the Sixth Amendment. Pennekamp v. State of Florida, 328 U.S. 331, 347, 66 S.Ct. 1029, 1037, 90 L.Ed. 1295, 1303-04 (1946).

The trial court may resolve a potential conflict by entering an order limiting trial participants from disclosing information prior to trial. However, before entering such an order, the court must first determine whether there is a reasonable likelihood that pretrial publicity will prejudice the defendant’s right to a fair trial.

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Bluebook (online)
63 S.W.3d 602, 1998 WL 514308, 1998 Ky. App. LEXIS 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/james-v-hines-kyctapp-1998.