Judge to Open Trial Records to 9/11 Families
Posted on: Saturday, 8 April 2006, 15:00 CDT
By The Sacramento Bee, Calif.
Apr. 8--ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The judge in the death-penalty trial of Zacarias Moussaoui said Friday she would open much of the voluminous record in the case to families of Sept. 11 victims pursuing negligence suits against American Airlines and United Airlines.
"I've always been troubled by the degree to which our government keeps things secret," U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said. She issued an order giving the families access after the trial to all non-classified documents that have been turned over to Moussaoui's defense team.
At a hearing on the issue, she cited recent laws enhancing crime victims' rights to recover damages and to participate in criminal proceedings.
"I would think that what Congress had in mind when they passed this legislation," the judge said, "was concern that these people had a right to ... see whether there was sufficient negligence or culpability" to warrant damages.
Brinkema acted over objections from the Transportation Security Administration, which contends that many of the records contain classified information that could alert terrorist groups to aviation security strategies and practices.
But Ron Motley, a Charleston, S.C., lawyer representing the families, said the information sought relates only to security practices prior to the Sept. 11 attacks, noting that dramatic changes have occurred since.
The suit was filed by nearly 100 families who elected to opt out of a federal compensation fund for families of Sept. 11 victims and pursue private litigation.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.
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Source: The Sacramento Bee
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