An appeals court has ruled that juvenile court hearings for seven New Jersey high school students charged in a football hazing investigation will remain closed to the media.
The court on Tuesday upheld a Family Court judge's decision that the goal of rehabilitating the juvenile defendants from the Sayreville War Memorial High School team "would be thwarted" and "community backlash" against them enhanced if the media had access to the hearings.
The court also agreed with the judge that media access could lead to a backlash against the alleged victims as well.
It ruled, however, that the media can name the defendants if the information is obtained from outside court proceedings.
The Associated Press, NJ Advance Media, Gannett New Jersey Newspapers and ABC Inc. had requested access to the hearings.
