Federal 'sunshine' bill would bring secret court documents to light.

Trial, May, 2008 by Porter, Rebecca

The Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2007 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in March, meaning that 14 years after the first version of the bill was introduced, the light is finally dawning on Congress.

The bill--S. 2449, sponsored by Sens. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)--would amend Chapter 111 of the U.S. Code, relating to protective orders, sealing of cases, and disclosures of discovery information in civil actions. It would require judges to consider public health and safety before allowing secrecy agreements.

"Too often, court secrecy agreements are used by powerful corporations to hide public safety hazards from the American people and the public safety agencies responsible for protecting them from...

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