PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. District Court has adopted a new policy that makes all letters supporting and condemning convicted criminals at sentencing electronically available for public view at a computer terminal in the federal courthouse.
The change comes two months after a Providence Journal reporter requested copies of 39 letters submitted to the court on behalf of ex-Central Falls Mayor Charles D. Moreau and his co-defendant, Michael G. Bouthillette, a local contractor.
Judge John J. McConnell Jr. gave lawyers defending Moreau and Bouthillette about a week to voice their objections. The lawyers filed memos saying that they felt it was unfair to release the letters.
McConnell released the letters, but redacted the names and addresses of the authors.
Under the new policy, all future letters will be public.