SAN BERNARDINO (CA)
San Bernardino Sun
Brad A. Greenberg, Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES - Testimony in clergy sexual-abuse lawsuits here and in the Inland Empire was ordered unsealed by a judge Tuesday, despite the Roman Catholic Church's argument that doing so would undermine its defense.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Haley J. Fromholz ruled against keeping depositions of 13 witnesses sealed, saying "there is a great deal of public interest' in the hundreds of cases against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the dioceses of San Bernardino and San Diego.
Evidence should not remain secret, he said, whether it supports someone claiming abuse or exonerates an accused priest.
But an attorney for the archdiocese decried releasing witness statements and "discussing evidence in the press.'
"They are trying to influence the jury pool and maintain a level of anger in the community that is inappropriate in civil proceedings,' said Donald Woods, an attorney for the archdiocese.
Fromholz did not specify when the witnesses' statements will be released. Names will be redacted from the documents.