PORTLAND, Maine - Maine District Court Judge Jeffrey Moskowitz today conceeded he made an error in ordering reporters not to report testimony in a plea hearing for attorney Anthony Sineni III.
The Portland Press Herald defied that order. "Well, we're gratified that the judge has rescinded an order that was clearly unconstitutional," said Managing Editor Steve Greenlee after this morning's hearing.
Judge Moskowitz apologized directly to Press Herald reporter Scott Dolan, who was in the courtroom today. In addition to lifting his order issued Monday regarding testimony, Judge Moskowitz also lifted an order that sealed the details of the sentence he handed Sineni.
Sineni, an attorney from Standish, was given a "deferred sentence" on misdemeanor charges in a domestic violence case. Felony charges against Sineni were dropped.
