Justices should know the Constitution

By:

Shandra Jordan

Colleen Buhrer

J.J. Babb

Willow Welter

Christopher J. Ortiz

At a speech at a Christian High School in Mississippi, Supreme

Court Justice Antonin Scalia had two reporters’ tape recorders

confiscated because he refuses to have electronic media record his

public speeches.

Scalia, a self-claimed supporter of the Constitution – including

the First Amendment – should know and follow the First Amendment,

freedom of the press and the Fourth Amendment, which protects

against unreasonable seizes.

Unfortunately for Mr. Scalia, he is a public figure and when he

gives a public speech, the media have the right to cover his

speeches with cameras and record his speeches using recorders.

Scalia, who has criticized the media for misquoting him and

taking his words out of context, should be in favor of reporters

using recorders to ensure better accuracy in reporting.

If members of the press are not allowed to adequately cover

public speeches of our public officials, it presents a threat and

danger to the freedom of the press and the public’s right to news

and information.

Scalia wrote an apology letter to the two reporters for having

their recorders confiscated, but the incident should not have

happened in the first place.