Calgary Judge Bans Public From Courtroom Over Social Media Concerns

Lawyers in a high-profile torture case say their client wouldn’t get a fair trial if people in the courtroom were allowed to make internet posts during proceedings.

The case against Dustin Ward Paxton has already generated chatter on social media sites, and his lawyers said it would only get worse if the public was allowed in the courtroom. Judge Brian Stevenson agreed, and banned the public from the proceedings Monday, sparking more debate on the effect social media has on Canadian courts’ impartiality. On Monday lawyers who represented Russell Williams said his trial was compromised by excessive use of social media by people in the courtroom. Accredited media and victims’ assistants will be allowed to attend. Paxton is accused of confining, torturing, and sexually assaulting his roommate Dustin LaFortune between Dec. 1, 2008, and March 2, 2010.