For release: December 1, 2014

Contact: Alex Armstrong, Coalition for Court Transparency, 203-434-4594, aarmstrong@skdknick.com

***Media Availability***
NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION GENERAL COUNSEL MICKEY
OSTERREICHER TO GIVE TESTIMONY BEFORE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY ON IMPROVING MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SUPREME COURT
Washington, D.C. Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association
and leading First Amendment expert, will testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts,
Intellectual Property, and the Internet on this Wed., Dec. 3, at 10:00 a.m., on the importance of electronic
coverage of Supreme Court hearings and will be available to speak with press about his testimony this week.
Osterreicher will discuss how the benefits of allowing electronic coverage bringing transparency to the federal
judicial system; providing increased accountability from litigants, judges and the press; and educating citizens
about the judicial process outweigh any perceived costs and will give suggestions on how federal courts could
adopt more open and modern media policies. Full text of his testimony will be available Wednesday.
The hearing was called by subcommittee chairman Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) to consider H.R. 917, the
Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2013, a bipartisan bill introduced last year by Rep. Steve King (R-Ia.) and cosponsored by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.).
Mr. Osterreicher will be available and at the National Press Club from 7:009:30 a.m. for phone or in-person
interviews on Wednesday before delivering his testimony at 10:00 a.m. at 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
If you would like to speak with him before or after the hearing, please coordinate with Alex Armstrong.
The National Press Photographers Association is a member of the Coalition for Court Transparency, a non-partisan
alliance of media and legal organizations that advocates for a more open and accountable Supreme Court.
WHAT:

Media availability

WHO:

Mickey Osterreicher, National Press Photographers Association general counsel

WHEN:

Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 7:009:30 a.m. ET; various times today and Tuesday

WHERE: Please coordinate with Alex Armstrong (203-434-4594, aarmstrong@skdknick.com).

Mr. Osterreicher will be at the National Press Club Wednesday morning before testifying.
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