
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 4, 1991                   TAG: 9102040351
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

JUDGE LIFTS GAG ON JUDICIAL COMPLAINTS

A federal judge has lifted a gag on people complaining about Virginia judges before a state review panel.

U.S. District Judge Richard Williams ruled that state law prohibiting someone from disclosing the results of a complaint against a judge - or even the fact such a complaint had been filed - violated free speech rights.

The judge also struck down Virginia's rule prohibiting witnesses from disclosing the contents of their own testimony, and he disallowed the practice of warning complainants and witnesses that such disclosures are illegal.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia had gone to court to get the ruling and its director hailed Williams' order.

"Each case like this that lifts the veil of secrecy covering the governmental process in Virginia is a victory for the people and for democracy," Kent Willis said.

But the order still leaves secret much of the proceedings of the Judicial Inquiry Review Commission.

by CNB