Press Explains First Amendment To Florida Judge, Who Rescinds Questionable Photography Ban

from the so-that's-how-it-works dept

Thu, Jul 16th 2015 3:32pm — Mike Masnick

About a week ago, we wrote about Judge Mark Mahon in Florida who originally issued an order barring people from protesting outside of the courthouse if they were "questioning the integrity of the court." After it started making national news, Judge Mahon rescinded part of the order, but kept part that banned photography around the courthouse -- which was interesting given that the issue in particular had to do with a reporter for PINAC: Photography Is Not A Crime (who is now suing).

On Wednesday, after a bunch of local media organizations met with the Judge and, presumably, explained the Constitution to him, Judge Mahon rescinded the administrative order entirely.

“Since the entry of that order, many representatives of differing interests have expressed concerns and suggestions with respect to the best means by which to deal with these issues,” Mahon said Wednesday.

That's not quite the "I'm sorry, I overreacted and abused my position of power" that might have been more appropriate, but at least it's something.

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Filed Under: first amendment, florida, mark mahon, photography

6 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 16 Jul 2015 @ 4:40pm

He's not a saint...
Asking anyone to say "I'm sorry, I overreacted and abused my position of power" is unrealistic. It presupposes that someone prone to overreaction and/or abusing power would also suffer contrition after the fact. It don't happen in nature.
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Ehud Gavron (profile), 16 Jul 2015 @ 5:21pm

"Fourth estate" cynicism
Checks and balances do work - The press explained the law to the judge in a way that law-school, his peers, his coworkers, his victim [aka defendant], and others couldn't.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Jul 2015 @ 7:34pm

Re: "Fourth estate" cynicism
Somebody should really write down what the given explanation was. It sounds like the kind of thing that would be good to know.
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eaving (profile), 17 Jul 2015 @ 12:04am

Explanation
"You can only pull abusive shit like this if no one notices and we will shine the big look at the moron light at you if you keep this up. Any questions?" Theres your explanation, does not work in all cases.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jul 2015 @ 9:37am

Re: Explanation
Doesn't work due to some liking having any big lights shining on them, even the "look I'm a mornon" ones...
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jul 2015 @ 10:51am

Re: Explanation
and given there seems to be lots of stories like this, the spot light is turning into a flood light. Purposely desensitizing us?
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