AUGUSTA, Maine - A Maine legislative panel is recommending the reappointment of a judge who was criticized last year for trying to restrict news coverage in his courtroom.
The Judiciary Committee unanimously supported Judge Jeffrey Moskowitz's reappointment to the District Court on Tuesday. He will now need to be confirmed by the full Republican-controlled Senate.
Moskowitz came under fire after he directed reporters not to publish certain testimony during a hearing in January. He issued an apology the next day and told the committee last week that he ``sincerely regretted making that mistake'' and learned a valuable lesson from the experience.
Moskowitz's reappointment was supported by many lawyers who have tried cases before him and groups like the Maine State Bar Association and Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
