UPDATED: Augusta Mayor explains attempts to limit cameras in the courtroom

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – FOX54 has obtained paperwork that present efforts by Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. to limit cameras contained in the courtroom throughout an upcoming continuing. 

The continuing is centered across the Mayor’s divorce from his longtime spouse. His personal life is not essentially the enterprise of the general public, however the query now could be does his personal life intersect together with his official capacities. 

In a nine-page submitting, Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., by way of his attorneys, is objecting to an order by Decide Kathy Palmer. The order grants FOX54’s cameras to be in court docket for his divorce proceedings.

Davis says he has a number of causes for wanting the proceedings to not be broadcast, together with saying this matter doesn’t contain his public workplace.

In an e mail to WFXG FOX54, Mayor Davis wrote: 

“This divorce is a painful course of, and I’ve a duty to guard my total household, together with my son. Anytime somebody makes an attempt to revenue off our ache, grief, and anguish related to the divorce proceedings, it solely makes issues harder for everybody concerned. It is a deeply private matter with no influence on my skilled life, and I stay centered on undertaking all I’ve promised to do as Mayor.”

Richard T. Griffiths is the President Emeritus of the Georgia First Modification Basis.

“It is completely within the public’s curiosity for journalists to have the ability to perceive what transpired and the way,” he says. 

Griffiths says on this matter Mayor Davis’ personal conduct might have an effect on his capability to do the job he was elected to do.

“For this official to be so vigorously against having the cameras current on this course of, is an indicator to me that the cameras must be there,” he says. 

The Mayor’s spouse alleges in divorce filings that Mayor Davis was having an affair with a girl who we discovered at one time was a paid marketing consultant by way of the metropolis. 

Paperwork obtained by FOX54 present the mayor invoked his proper to not incriminate himself in depositions not too long ago when requested in regards to the alleged affair.

“Actually there must be scrutiny of that and all the allegations that come out of that. And that public official’s solutions to these allegations,” Griffiths says. 

The problem of cameras within the courtroom goes additional than simply this case, Griffiths says media protection performs a vital position in our justice system.

“When the media is current within the courtroom, it means the general public has a consultant there to see what transpired. To have the ability to observe, to make it possible for justice is carried out,” he explains. 

He says there are some limitations to the apply. 

“I feel there could also be circumstances the place babies are concerned, the place maybe they don’t want to listen to each gory element,” he says. 

The Decide has not dominated on the Mayor’s movement but, there’s one other listening to scheduled in just a few weeks.

FOX54 reached out to counsel for Mayor Davis for touch upon the request. They haven’t returned our request for remark. 

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