California Judge Seals All Records in Murder Case of NYT Executive, Citing Transparency Concerns
First Amendment advocates question the legality and transparency of the sweeping court order.
A judge in Alameda County, California, has sealed all court records pertaining to the murder case of Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times gaming executive, including the judge's own identity. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from transparency advocates who argue it potentially violates public access laws.
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, are accused of fatally shooting McKinsey, 40, on September 26. The alleged motive stems from a contentious divorce and child custody battle involving their daughter, Candice Jang, and McKinsey. The couple faces charges of murder and lying in wait.
The order blocks public access to the criminal complaint, police declarations, and other case documents, a move that legal experts say is highly unusual and potentially unlawful. "That’s not supposed to happen that way," Matthew Cate, an attorney specializing in public access cases, told the Mercury News, referencing protections under the First Amendment, California's Constitution, and state law. "I can’t imagine what would justify sealing an entire case file."
David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, called the blanket sealing an "egregious" departure from the principle that criminal court records should be publicly accessible. "Court records are presumptively open to the public and every sealing should be the exception rather than the rule," Loy stated.
Loy also criticized the decision to conceal the judge's identity, noting that it prevents the public from assessing any potential conflicts of interest. The Alameda County courts confirmed the existence of the sealing order but declined to comment.
Police documents indicate that Chen was arrested with one of the suspected murder weapons, while Zhang admitted to firing the shots that killed McKinsey. The couple is being held without bail and could face life sentences without parole. Previously released court documents in their separate divorce proceedings reportedly contain allegations of abuse and harassment, with McKinsey having also accused his in-laws of transphobia and homophobic slurs.