EFTA00180838¶
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA¶
CRIMINAL DIVISION “W”¶
STATE OF FLORIDA,¶
CASE NO. 502008CF009381AXXMB¶
502006CF009454AXXMB¶
vs.¶
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,¶
Defendant¶
ORDER¶
THIS MATTER came before the Court on the following:¶
a) Non-party E.W.’s Motion to Vacate Order Sealing Records and Unseal Records¶
d) Jeffrey Epstein’s Motion to Make Court Records Confidential¶
b) Palm Beach Post’s Motions to Intervene and Petition for Access¶
c) B.B.’s Motions to Intervene and for an Order to Unseal Records¶
A hearing was conducted on these matters on June 25, 2009. The Court notes that Mr. Goldberger, Esq. and Mr. Critton, Esq. were present on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein. Ms. Shullman, Esq. was present on behalf of the Palm Beach Post, Mr. Berger, Esq. and Mr. Edwards, Esq. were present on behalf of E.W., Mr. Kuvin, Esq. was present on behalf of B.B., Assistant State Attorney Barbara Burns was present on behalf of the State of Florida. No appearance was filed on behalf of the United States. After giving an opportunity for all parties to be heard, the Court finds as follows:¶
EFTA00180839¶
Page Two¶
Case No. 502008CF009381AXXMB/502006CF009454AXXMB¶
-
The State of Florida charged the Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, with Felony Solicitation of Prostitution.
-
The State of Florida and Mr. Epstein came to a negotiated resolution of the charges. Part of that resolution included an agreement entered into between Mr. Epstein and the United States. At the plea conference in State court Mr. Epstein plead guilty to the State charges. At the plea conference the agreement between Mr. Epstein and the United States were made part of this Court’s record. The agreement was sealed in two separate filings. At the time the State court took these matters under seal, the proper procedure for sealing such documents had not been followed. The June 25th hearing was to give Mr. Epstein, the State, and/or the United States an opportunity to comply with the well-defined and narrow parameters for sealing such documents. After hearing argument of counsel, the Court makes the following findings and rulings:
Neither the State of Florida nor the U.S. Government nor Mr. Epstein have presented sufficient evidence to warrant the sealing of documents currently held by the Court.¶
- The Motions to seal the Court records are denied.
The Motions to intervene are granted.¶
- The Motion to unseal the documents is granted.
EFTA00180840¶
Page Three¶
Case No. 502008CF009381AXXMB/502006CF009454AXXMB¶
-
The originals will not be disclosed, however the undersigned will do an incamera inspection and redact the names of the underage victims, if any, so their identity will be indicated by their initials.
-
This Order is in no way to be interpreted as permission to not comply with U.S. District Court Kenneth Marra’s previous Orders.
-
The disclosure of the sealed documents shall be stayed at least until June 26, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., at which time the Court will hear “Epstein’s Motion to Stay Disclosure of Non-Prosecution Agreement and Addendum Pending Review”.
DONE AND ORDERED in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida this day of June, 2009.¶
Copies furnished:¶
R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney’s Office - Southern District 500 South Australian Avenue, Suite 400¶
West Palm Beach, FL 33401¶
Barbara Burns, Esq., State Attorney’s Office¶
401 North Dixie Highway¶
West Palm Beach, FL 33401¶
William J. Berger, Esq.¶
Bradley J. Edwards, Esq.¶
Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler¶
401 East Las Olas Boulevard., Suite 1650¶
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33394¶
Robert D. Critton, Esq.¶
Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman¶
515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 400¶
West Palm Beach, FL 33401¶
EFTA00180841¶
Page Four¶
Case No. 502008CF009381AXXMB/502006CF009454AXXMB¶
Jack A. Goldberger, Esq.¶
Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.¶
250 Australian Avenue South, Suite 1400¶
West Palm Beach, FL 33401¶
| | |¶
| :--- | :--- |¶
| Spencer T. Kuvin, Esq. | |¶
| Leopold-Kuvin, P.A. | |¶
| 2925 PGA Boulevard, Suite 200 | |¶
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 | |¶
Deanna K. Shullman, Esq.¶
P. O. Box 2602¶
Tampa, FL 33602¶
EFTA00180842¶