Opinion ID: 1224487
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motions to Seal

Text: The State moves to unseal Gentry's motions for authorization of expenses necessary to conduct an investigation. Gentry asked that the motions be sealed under GR 15(c)(2)(B), which allows the sealing of files and records under compelling circumstances where justice so requires. This requirement of compelling circumstances stems from the constitutional preference for open administration of justice. WASH. CONST. art. I, § 22 (amend.10). The Constitution itself requires the proponent of closure or sealing to make a showing of a compelling interest; where that interest is based on a right other than the accused's right to a fair trial, the proponent must show a serious and imminent threat to that right. State v. Bone-Club, 128 Wash.2d 254, 258, 906 P.2d 325 (1995). Gentry seems to contend that sealing his motions is necessary to protect his right to a fair trial, or, in this case, retrial upon remand; he relies on a California case involving an ex parte motion for appointment of a second trial counsel in a capital case. See Keenan v. Superior Court, 31 Cal.3d 424, 180 Cal.Rptr. 489, 640 P.2d 108 (1982) (noting state law appropriately allows such motions to be filed ex parte). But Gentry is not now seeking appointment of trial counsel; his conviction and sentence are final. The State is already aware of Gentry's defense to the charge and his theory of the case; those matters therefore cannot be prematurely disclosed. Gentry may be concerned the State will use, in a retrial, any unfavorable evidence he might discover, but the evidence itself would not be revealed simply by unsealing Gentry's motions. The State would learn only the avenues of investigation his current counsel are pursuing. Gentry seems to ignore the fact he is seeking discovery in order to obtain facts tending to establish his conviction or sentence should be vacated. Surely he does not believe a court would grant such relief without giving the State an opportunity to test, in an adversarial hearing, whatever evidence his planned investigation produces. Gentry has not shown his right to a fair trial is imperiled or sealing the motions is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to any other compelling interest. The motions should not have been sealed.