Court entered an "interim decorum order" to manage trial publicity and the media to ensure that Defendant police officer, charged with shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, received a fair trial. Court ordered certain documents to remain under seal. Three months after entry of order, and 2 months after appeal was filed, trial court ordered the 18 remaining sealed documents to be released with some redactions. Appellate court lacks jurisdiction to consider appellants' claim as to their motion to join in another journalist's motion to intervene and to vacate. Trial court did not err in delaying release of the disputed documents or in releasing them as redacted. Trial court had jurisdiction in September 2019 to modify its prior interim order of May 2019 to permit release of the 18 documents. (HALL and LAVIN, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Sealing of Records