ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — News reporters were not allowed into a court hearing for the son of former Gov. Sarah Palin.
Palin, 29, had a court hearing on Monday for burglary, assault and criminal mischief charges, KTUU-TV reported . He was arrested in December at the Palins’ Wasilla home. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from allegations that he assaulted his father.
Judge David Wallace cited an administrative rule that requires media requests to be submitted at least 24 hours ahead of time as the reason for barring reporters. But media organizations are often allowed to cover court proceedings without submitting the paperwork a full day in advance, KTUU-TV reported.
Wallace also said he denied the request because of the “privacy interest of other persons.”
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Palin’s attorney, Patrick Bergt, said he plans to file a motion to bar media from all of Palin’s court hearings.
“It’s not just about my client,” Bergt said. “Given the therapeutic nature of veteran’s court, I don’t think it’s appropriate to have media in there recording.”
His hearing was in Veterans Treatment Court, which gives eligible veterans the option of enrolling in mental health treatment programs instead of a traditional sentence. Sarah Palin in 2016 said her eldest son might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time serving in the Army in Iraq in 2008.
Palin’s comment came after her son was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend.
He pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while intoxicated and other charges were dismissed.
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Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com