Where Is the Steve Lippman Protective Order?

This DBR article on Steve Lippman's continuing efforts to shield the public from his deposition testimony in the Rothstein matter says an order was entered Wednesday:

Lippman made a last-minute attempt Thursday to postpone the depositions until the court could clarify whether transcripts of the depositions could be released.

During an emergency hearing on Monday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Raymond Ray barred the news media and the public from attending the Lippmans’ depositions at their request.

But Ray’s order, which came down Wednesday afternoon, said that counsel for the firm’s bankruptcy trustee “shall make the transcripts available to the press and public.”

Following an emergency hearing Thursday morning, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John K. Olson, who was filling in for Ray who is on vacation, ruled from the bench that transcripts could not be released until April 9, giving the Lippmans the chance to either appeal Ray’s order or file a motion for reconsideration.

Here is the docket -- smart PACER kids, tell me where is Judge Ray's Order?

BTW I like this part of the argument:

Lippman’s attorney, Patrick Scott of GrayRobinson, said making the transcripts available could cause embarrassment to his clients.

“The entire transcript could end up on the blog within minutes or hours or days after the deposition ended,” Scott said in court Thursday

"Yeah, just like my to-do list," Scott added.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

Anyone know what the story is with the Order let me know.

Steve Lippman Depo Closed to Public

I think we all know the trend in federal courts generally, and certainly in the SD FL under Judge Moreno, has been to limit circumstances in which documents and testimony are submitted under seal.

This has something to do with the public's "right to know," or some such musty old doctrine probably invented by Lucy Lawless and a bunch of randy guys in togas -- Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora?

(I should have paid more attention in law school.)

And you know how you always start a deposition by informing the witness that this is a public proceeding, akin to being in a courtroom, and that your testimony under oath here is just as significant whether taken in a lawyer's office or in front of a jury?

Notwithstanding all that, Judge Ray has barred the public from attending the deposition of Steve Lippman in the RRA bankruptcy case.

See if you think this argument passes the "red face" test I do actually recall from law school:

In arguing to close the deposition, Lippman’s attorney, Patrick Scott, said of the case: “This is a case where there’s a very low public interest.”

DING DING DING DING DING!!!

Patrick, you must not have access to my blog stats.

In fact, our number one search term is "Scott Rothstein" (of course, that is closely followed by "Kim Rothstein is a hottie" -- what can I say, gotta love our readers).

A Very Fine New Year's To Do List!

New Years to Do List

I hope all of you are as diligent as GrayRobinson's Patrick Scott, who was thorough enough to file his New Year's To Do List with Bankruptcy Judge Ray.

Get cracking Trish, there's a lot of work to do!

(BTW, I can help fill out IRS form 4506 if you guys get stressed).