Federal Judge Forces Vermont Courts to Stop Delaying Public Access to Civil Case Documents

In a decisive move affirming constitutional transparency, a federal judge has issued an injunction against Vermont’s judiciary practice of delaying the release of newly filed civil court documents. This ruling dismantles a process that long shielded the public from timely information about court proceedings — a cornerstone for accountability in any free society.How Long Will Bureaucrats Keep Blocking Public Access?Judge Christina Reiss's recent four-page order highlights a fundamental principle: the First Amendment guarantees the public immediate access to newly filed complaints, effective as soon as courts receive them. Yet, Vermont’s judiciary insisted on scrutinizing these filings for potentially sensitive information...