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.
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