Retired Judge Nancy Gertner to Receive NEFAC’s 2015 Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award
An advocate for cameras in the courtroom, and such a proponent of the press that she risked recusal to speak to the media about her cases, retired federal judge Nancy Gertner will receive the New England First Amendment Coalition‘s 2015 Stephen Hamblett Award.
EFAC will honor Gertner from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Seaport Hotel, 1 Seaport Lane in Boston. Tickets can be purchased here. The award is named after the late publisher of The Providence Journal and given each year to an individual who has promoted, defended or advocated for the First Amendment.
“During Judge Gertner’s career, she has done all these things,” said Justin Silverman, NEFAC’s executive director. “She has shown great respect for the press, has written several decisions reaffirming First Amendment freedoms and has been an advocate for open government.”
In 2000, for example, Gertner testified about the need for more transparency in federal courts, saying that the concept of a public proceeding necessitates a courtroom open to television cameras. She also expressed support for courtroom cameras during a 2007 hearing.
Judge Gertner even used the press to speak publicly about her cases – rarely done by active judges – and to provide another level of transparency within the judicial system. She did this though it carried great professional risk, in one case leading to calls for her recusal.
“For First Amendment and right-to-know advocates throughout New England, these are actions worth celebrating,” Silverman said. “Judge Gertner has been a long-time advocate of civil rights and has been a friend of the press. In previous years, we have honored the work of three journalists and a media executive. While Judge Gertner’s legal background may distinguish her from previous honorees, her First Amendment bona fides certainly put her in the same class.”
Previous Hamblett Award recipients include Anthony Lewis, the late author and columnist for The New York Times; Martin Baron, Washington Post executive editor and former Boston Globe editor; Philip Balboni, GlobalPost co-founder and CEO; and James Risen, investigative reporter for The New York Times.
The luncheon is part of the New England Newspaper & Press Association‘s winter convention and will also feature the presentations of NEFAC’s annual FOI Award and Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award.
