Federal judge orders unsealing of judicial records in juvenile felony cases transferred to criminal court

A federal judge has ordered Connecticut courts to unseal all judicial records in cases transferred from juvenile court to criminal court, an important ruling that will help the public and press hold the state’s court system accountable.

Judge Michael P. Shea of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut issued his ruling last week in conjunction with the Hartford Courant’s challenge to the state’s Juvenile Transfer Act, which shields judicial records and proceedings from the public in juvenile felony cases transferred to criminal court until a verdict is...