Bad Things Happen in the Dark: Attorneys Must Speak Up When Misleading News Reports Target Our Judiciary
Three family law attorneys speak out against a recent report broadcast by NBC 4 New York that they say undermines the public's trust in the judiciary.
October 18, 2024 at 07:58 PM
9 minute read
Family LawOur justice system is under attack. One recent salvo appeared on NBC 4 New York. NBC permitted a grossly misleading news report prepared and aired by reporter Sarah Wallace to air on its network. The report targeted Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Waterman-Marshall. Make no mistake: The damage inflicted by Ms. Wallace's sensational news coverage, like other similar pieces, does untold damage to our justice system; it undermines the credibility of courts, judges, and attorneys. In the process, it sends a message to the public that New York State jurists and our courts are not trustworthy, undermining the public's trust and confidence in the judiciary, and in turn decreasing the likelihood litigants will seek available protection from our courts. It comes as no surprise to most attorneys to hear that a recent national poll found that public confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court has fallen from 75% in 2000 to under 50% in 2022. We acknowledge that our justice system is imperfect, which is why we are advocates for change when warranted. Each of us have dedicated our careers to helping our clients resolve their family conflicts in the New York State supreme and family courts, and we welcome responsible reporting on our court system. However, we condemn those reporters and news agencies that put sensationalism over sincerity and ratings over reality. As the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis noted well over a century ago, "sunlight is the best disinfectant." But let us not forget that the converse is also true: bad things happen in the dark.
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