Military access

A military appeals court denied a group of journalists’ attempt to access court filings and decisions in the court-martial of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.

In a 3-2 split, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces decided Wednesday it did not have jurisdiction to address the journalists’ arguments, dealing a major setback to the public’s ability to secure its rights of access to military court proceedings.

The federal government asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on Monday to become the third court to deny the public access to military court documents in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning. The government’s argument: the Freedom of Information Act is the proper method to obtain the materials.

Military prosecutors and the defense have concluded their presentation of evidence in the Article 32 hearing of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, and closing arguments will begin Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

In an effort to address calls for transparency in the trials of accused terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, the Department of Defense launched a new website that aims to provide the public up-to-date information concerning the military proceedings.

The delicate act of balancing the public’s right to know with national security in a time of terrorism was displayed on the floor of the U.S. Supreme Court in arguments held Wednesday morning.

The case before the court, Milner v. Department of the Navy, concerned the Navy’s decision to withhold documents requested under the federal Freedom of Information Act regarding U.S. Navy maps depicting the placement of explosives at a Washington state naval munitions site.

The Department of Defense last week released expanded reporters’ ground rules for military trials at Guantanamo Bay. The changes came after members of the media complained about the trials’ lack of transparency.

In an Department of Defense memo sent last week to officials and the news media, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas B. Wilson reaffirmed the Pentagon’s effort to curb the flow of leaked or otherwise unauthorized information to the news media.

A coalition of news organizations led by the journalism group Military Reporters & Editors wrote a letter to the Pentagon Wednesday emphasizing the importance of public access to any military court proceeding against accused Fort Hood gunman Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

The U.S. Army's decision to limit media access at a Sarah Palin's public book signing scheduled for Monday at Fort Bragg prompted a media outcry yesterday.

Fort Bragg officials announced Thursday morning that the base would be open to the general public but that media would not be allowed to cover the event, the Fayetteville Observer reported. An Army official cited concerns that media presence would create a forum for criticizing President Barack Obama.