Opinion ID: 2581037
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: motions to seal and article i, section 10

Text: Our state constitution requires that [j]ustice in all cases shall be administered openly. CONST. art. I, § 10. This guarantees the public and the press a right of access to judicial proceedings and court documents in both civil and criminal cases. Cohen v. Everett City Council, 85 Wash.2d 385, 388, 535 P.2d 801 (1975). Our founders did not countenance secret justice. [O]perations of the courts and the judicial conduct of judges are matters of utmost public concern. Landmark Communications, Inc. v. Virginia, 435 U.S. 829, 839, 98 S.Ct. 1535, 56 L.Ed.2d 1 (1978). Open access to government institutions is fundamental to a free and democratic society. Open access to the courts is grounded in our common law heritage and our national and state constitutions. For centuries publicity has been a check on the misuse of both political and judicial power. As a leading theorist of the Enlightenment wrote: Let the verdicts and proofs of guilt be made public, so that opinion, which is, perhaps, the sole cement of society, may serve to restrain power and passions; so that the people may say, we are not slaves, and we are protected  a sentiment which inspires courage and which is the equivalent of a tribute to a sovereign who knows his own true interests. CESARE BECCARIA, ON CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS 22 (Henry Paolucci trans., Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc.1963) (1764). Proceedings cloaked in secrecy foster mistrust and, potentially, misuse of power. Again, the operations of the courts and the judicial conduct of judges are matters of utmost public concern. Seattle Times Co. v. United States Dist. Court, 845 F.2d 1513, 1516 (9th Cir.1988). Our state constitution entitles the public, and ... the press is part of that public, to openly administered justice. Cohen, 85 Wash.2d at 388, 535 P.2d 801. The right of access to judicial records, like the openness of court proceedings, serves to enhance the basic fairness of the proceedings and to safeguard the integrity of the fact-finding process. Republic of Philippines v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 139 F.R.D. 50, 56 (D.N.J.1991) (citing Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 464 U.S. 501, 508, 104 S.Ct. 819, 823, 78 L.Ed.2d 629 (1984)). Openness is presumptive, but it is not absolute. The public's right of access may be limited to protect other significant and fundamental rights, such as a defendant's right to a fair trial. Federated Publ'ns, Inc. v. Kurtz, 94 Wash.2d 51, 65, 615 P.2d 440 (1980). The burden of persuading the court that access must be restricted to prevent a threat to an important interest is generally on the proponent, with carefully guarded exceptions. Ishikawa, 97 Wash.2d at 37, 640 P.2d 716 (right to a fair trial). We now turn to how these principles apply in an unusual but important form of action, the shareholder derivative suit. As this is a case of first impression in this state, we have not heretofore given guidance to our trial courts on the treatment of materials filed in support of motions to terminate.