Eastern District of Pennsylvania Holds Recording Police Activity In Public NOT Constitutionally Protected

In an opinion today, Judge Mark Kearney ruled that citizens who, at the time of recording, do not intend to challenge police activity, have no right to videotape police officers performing their duties in public.  You can read excerpts of the decisions here, as reported by The Legal Intelligencer today.  The opinion was not publicly available online at the Eastern District’s website and the decision may not be appealed immediately, as there were other issues to be decided in the case.  However, the attorneys for the plaintiffs have indicated their desire to appeal the case, according to the article.

Once the opinion has been made public, Thompson Law Offices will review the decision and post further analysis.  However, given the importance of the case, it was felt necessary to post the decision, without analysis, sooner, rather than later.