Prior Restraints

By Russell Hickey

Yesterday the Missouri Court of Appeals granted relief from a Jackson County trial court's decision to prohibit The Kansas City Star and The Pitch, Kansas City's alternative newsweekly, from publishing an article about an internal utility memo.

It has long been settled law that prior restraints against the media are to be granted in only the rarest of circumstances.  The decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals is consistent with that jurisprudence.  Unfortunately, this is the second time in four years that The Kansas City Star has been forced to seek relief from a prior restraint.

The Star's article about yesterday's decision can be found at: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/16848297.htm.

A copy of the decision is also online.

Russell Hickey is a Claims Counsel at Media/Professional Insurance.