Crime & Safety

Legal Challenge Mounted Against Order to Seal Documents in Murder Case

A number of news organizations are all calling foul on a judge's order to seal records related to a search warrant in the case against Philip Chism.

News organizations are now legally challenging a court order to seal certain records pertaining to the case against 14-year-old Philip Chism of Danvers, who is accused of murdering his high school math teacher Colleen Ritzer last week.

At the request of Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office, court documents related to a search warrant were sealed from public view on Thursday by Salem District Court Judge Michael Lauranzano.

Those documents contained the results of the search, which included Chism's home in Danversport, along with the reasons why the warrant was requested in the first place. Those documents would normally be available to the public; in fact, even the motion requesting the material be impounded was sealed.

What is available to the public from the court is a brief statement of facts, which sheds little light on the case beyond that prosecutors appear confident of the evidence against Chism.

Blodgett initially warned the press state laws protecting juveniles would severely limit the information he could release, but then Chism was arraigned that day in district court on a first-degree murder charge (instead of in juvenile court) and prosecutors anticipate moving the case to superior court where Chism would be tried as an adult.

A spokesperson for Blodgett's office told the Salem News, which is part of the complaint, the decision to seal the documents was made in part to spare Ritzer's family from certain details of the crime at this time, "concern for prejudicing Chism's right to a fair trial" and because some witnesses identified haven't testified before a grand jury.

According to the Salem News, it's sister paper the Eagle Tribune, the Associated Press and GateHouse Media, which locally publishes the Danvers Herald, are all legally challenging the decision. Patch Media is not part of the complaint.

The Salem News says a hearing was scheduled for Monday, but then moved to Friday after a procedural objection from Blodgett's office.


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