Minnesota judge quickly rejects lawyers' plea to seal archbishop's testimony
March 27, 2014
Even before a March 27 court hearing, a Minnesota judge said that he would not grant a request by lawyers for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis to seal the testimony of Archbishop John Nienstedt.
“I had no intention of providing a protection order” to keep the archbishop’s deposition sealed, said Judge John Van de North. “I thought that was pretty clear.”
At the March 27 hearing, archdiocesan lawyers also asked the judge to extend a deadline for the release of files pertaining to priests accused of sexual abuse. The judge insisted that documents related to the tenure of Archbishop Nienstedt, who assumed leadership of the archdiocese in 2008, must be delivered on schedule, to prepare for his deposition. Judge Van de North allowed, however, that the deadline for release of other documents could be moved back to May 31.
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Further information:
- Court won't seal deposition of St. Paul archbishop in priest sex abuse case (St. Cloud Times)
- St. Paul archdiocese gets more time to file documents on abusive priests (Star-Tribune)
- Minnesota archdiocese again seeks delay in releasing abuse files (CWN, 3/26)
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