A North Carolina judge has issued a blanket administrative order that seals court records containing personal information of jurors, the Charlotte Observer reports. Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens issued the order protecting jurors' addresses, phone numbers and private information on court-issued questionnaires. Public records advocates and media lawyers have criticized the move, the report states, saying that it violates the constitution and puts the openness of judicial proceedings at risk. The judge said, "I'm just exercising the authority of the court to create an environment in which jurors can do their job." Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a bill that will prevent the public from knowing who possesses firearm owner identification cards.
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