Friday, January 21, 2005

NEW WESTMINSTER - A secret portion of an extradition hearing has concluded in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, with the judge reserving decision on the issue of whether the media or their lawyers can disclose any information about the case.

So far, the judge has imposed such a sweeping publication ban that The Vancouver Sun's lawyer cannot disclose to editors any details of the case, including the requesting state, the name of the person it is seeking to have extradited, or the name of the presiding judge.

The hearing was held in-camera, which means it was closed to the public and the media.

The Sun's lawyer was invited last September to make submissions about whether the proceedings will continue in-camera and what information, if any, may be disclosed to media lawyers and their principals. Sun editor-in-chief Patricia Graham said at the time the case was "highly unusual and extremely problematic." It was the first time The Sun's lawyer had been invited to show up in court without editors being able to give instructions about whether the paper wanted the lawyer to attend, she said.

© The Vancouver Sun 2005