The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) has criticized the detention of WWL Louisiana investigative producer Danny Monteverde and outlet lawyer Elana Beiser, who were handcuffed by courthouse deputies in early July while attempting to object to the closure of a courtroom proceeding. The journalists were attempting to protest Judge Leon Roche’s decision to close the courtroom where a grand jury had handed up an indictment against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on accusations related to threats against Democratic New Orleans officials.
In a letter dated 5 August to the New Orleans criminal court, RCFP attorney Virginia Hamrick characterized the detention as having no justification and argued that it conveyed a problematic message discouraging press access to court proceedings. Hamrick stated that journalists should not face detention merely for exercising constitutional rights to object to courtroom closures. The RCFP letter acknowledged that Judge Roche cited concerns about protecting grand jury members’ safety and anonymity, but contended that such concerns do not warrant closing a courtroom without hearing objections to that closure.
The incident occurred amid broader political tensions between Louisiana Republicans and New Orleans Democrats regarding a court clerk position. The state attorney general had issued letters to New Orleans officials warning that their offices could face action for violating state laws regarding unauthorized officeholders. A grand jury subsequently voted to indict Murrill on charges of intimidation and malfeasance. When Roche attempted to close the courtroom for the indictment’s return on 2 July, Monteverde and Beiser protested and were subsequently handcuffed after refusing orders to leave the public courthouse building.
Judge Roche later stated in court filings that he had not instructed deputies to detain media members, while the sheriff’s office said its deputies acted according to directives they received. The case against Murrill was placed on hold by Louisiana’s state supreme court, which found procedural irregularities, and was dismissed on 22 July by a special prosecutor after New Orleans officials urged dismissal. Murrill subsequently stated that her actions were not criminal, characterizing the prosecution as malicious.
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