'Bridgegate' names can remain secret: U.S. appeals courtNEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected an effort by news media to force prosecutors in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal known as “Bridgegate” to disclose the names of unindicted co-conspirators. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia found no right of public access under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment or the common law to a list of people implicated but not criminally charged. The 3-0 decision came one day before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the trial of two former allies of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who are accused of arranging the September 2013 shutdown of bridge access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey, causing several days of gridlock. “Public access to judicial documents and court proceedings is a respected tradition and important legal principle, but it has bounds,” Circuit Judge Kent Jordan wrote. While it may make sense to release the names at trial, “that time is not here yet,” he added. Prosecutors accused William Baroni, a former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Anne Kelly, a former Christie deputy chief of staff, of closing lanes to punish Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, for not endorsing the successful re-election of Christie, a Republican. Disclosing the list could have shown whether other Christie allies sought political payback by snarling traffic. Another former Port Authority official, David Wildstein, is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty. Christie has denied involvement, but the scandal helped erode his once-high approval ratings. He ran unsuccessfully this year for the White House. His office had no immediate comment. U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton in Newark had in May ordered disclosing the names of unindicted co-conspirators, but a “John Doe” on the list appealed, fearing reputational harm. Bruce Rosen, a lawyer for media companies including ABC, the Associated Press and the New York Times, in an email said his clients are disappointed, and no decision on an appeal has been made. Doe’s lawyer, Jenny Kramer, in an email said she was gratified that the appeals court “prevented disclosure of highly prejudicial material.” A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in New Jersey, who supported Doe, declined to comment. Baroni and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to wire fraud, civil rights deprivation and conspiracy charges, and received the list of names to help prepare for trial. Their lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. politicsNews
names remain secret appeals courtney york reuters a federal appeals court wednesday rejected effort news media force prosecutors george washington bridge scandal known bridgegate disclose names indicted reversing lower court ruling circuit court appeals philadelphia found right public access constitution first amendment common law list people implicated criminally charged the decision came one day jury selection scheduled begin trial two former allies new jersey governor chris christie accused arranging september shutdown bridge access lanes fort lee new jersey causing several days gridlock public access judicial documents court proceedings respected tradition important legal principle bounds circuit judge kent jordan wrote while may make sense release names trial time yet added prosecutors accused william baron former deputy executive director port authority new york new jersey bridge anne kelly former christie deputy chief staff closing lanes punish fort lee democratic mayor mark sokolich endorsing successful christie republican disclosing list could shown whether christie allies sought political payback starling traffic another former port authority official david wildstein cooperating prosecutors pleading guilty christie denied involvement scandal helped erode approval ratings he ran unsuccessfully year white house his office immediate comment district judge susan wigenton newark may ordered disclosing names indicted john doe list appealed fearing reputation harm bruce rosen lawyer media companies including abc associated press new york times email said clients disappointed decision appeal made doe lawyer jenny frame email said ratified appeals court prevented disclosure highly prejudicial a spokesman attorney paul freshman new jersey supported doe declined comment baron kelly pleaded guilty wire fraud civil rights deprivation conspiracy charges received list names help prepare trial their lawyers immediately respond requests comment politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: 'Bridgegate' names can remain secret: U.S. appeals courtNEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected an effort by news media to force prosecutors in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal known as “Bridgegate” to disclose the names of unindicted co-conspirators. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia found no right of public access under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment or the common law to a list of people implicated but not criminally charged. The 3-0 decision came one day before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the trial of two former allies of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who are accused of arranging the September 2013 shutdown of bridge access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey, causing several days of gridlock. “Public access to judicial documents and court proceedings is a respected tradition and important legal principle, but it has bounds,” Circuit Judge Kent Jordan wrote. While it may make sense to release the names at trial, “that time is not here yet,” he added. Prosecutors accused William Baroni, a former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Anne Kelly, a former Christie deputy chief of staff, of closing lanes to punish Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, for not endorsing the successful re-election of Christie, a Republican. Disclosing the list could have shown whether other Christie allies sought political payback by snarling traffic. Another former Port Authority official, David Wildstein, is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty. Christie has denied involvement, but the scandal helped erode his once-high approval ratings. He ran unsuccessfully this year for the White House. His office had no immediate comment. U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton in Newark had in May ordered disclosing the names of unindicted co-conspirators, but a “John Doe” on the list appealed, fearing reputational harm. Bruce Rosen, a lawyer for media companies including ABC, the Associated Press and the New York Times, in an email said his clients are disappointed, and no decision on an appeal has been made. Doe’s lawyer, Jenny Kramer, in an email said she was gratified that the appeals court “prevented disclosure of highly prejudicial material.” A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in New Jersey, who supported Doe, declined to comment. Baroni and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to wire fraud, civil rights deprivation and conspiracy charges, and received the list of names to help prepare for trial. Their lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: names remain secret appeals courtney york reuters a federal appeals court wednesday rejected effort news media force prosecutors george washington bridge scandal known bridgegate disclose names indicted reversing lower court ruling circuit court appeals philadelphia found right public access constitution first amendment common law list people implicated criminally charged the decision came one day jury selection scheduled begin trial two former allies new jersey governor chris christie accused arranging september shutdown bridge access lanes fort lee new jersey causing several days gridlock public access judicial documents court proceedings respected tradition important legal principle bounds circuit judge kent jordan wrote while may make sense release names trial time yet added prosecutors accused william baron former deputy executive director port authority new york new jersey bridge anne kelly former christie deputy chief staff closing lanes punish fort lee democratic mayor mark sokolich endorsing successful christie republican disclosing list could shown whether christie allies sought political payback starling traffic another former port authority official david wildstein cooperating prosecutors pleading guilty christie denied involvement scandal helped erode approval ratings he ran unsuccessfully year white house his office immediate comment district judge susan wigenton newark may ordered disclosing names indicted john doe list appealed fearing reputation harm bruce rosen lawyer media companies including abc associated press new york times email said clients disappointed decision appeal made doe lawyer jenny frame email said ratified appeals court prevented disclosure highly prejudicial a spokesman attorney paul freshman new jersey supported doe declined comment baron kelly pleaded guilty wire fraud civil rights deprivation conspiracy charges received list names help prepare trial their lawyers immediately respond requests comment politicsnews