Sigmund Schutz, a partner with Preti Flaherty, is among a select group of individuals invited by the National Center for State Courts to participate in a Focus Group meeting on Evidence Based Public Access.   On January 17 and 18, 2019, at the National Center for State Court’s International Office in Arlington, Virginia, Focus Group participants will discuss the use of technology and policy to improve public access to state court records and information in the United States, including policy challenges, access governance, and policy trends.

The National Center for State Courts is an independent, nonprofit court improvement organization that strives to improve the administration of justice through leadership and service to state courts, and courts around the world.  NCSC's services — research, information services, education, consulting — focus on helping courts plan, make decisions, and implement improvements that save time and money, while ensuring judicial administration that supports fair and impartial decision-making.

Based in Portland, Maine, Schutz practices throughout New England in Preti Flaherty’s Litigation and Media Law Groups.  He has extensive experience representing the news media in First Amendment matters, defamation and privacy law issues, state and federal freedom of information, newsgathering and cyber law matters.  Schutz will provide the Focus Group with insight on national trends and thoughts on how public and media access expectations are evolving. 

An accomplished trial lawyer, Schutz’s experience also includes a range of complex state and federal litigation and appeals, including product liability claims, construction litigation, commercial litigation and arbitration, civil rights and constitutional litigation, professional liability disputes and unfair trade practices and administrative claims.

He is listed in Best Lawyers in America in First Amendment Law and is recognized by Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA and New England Super Lawyers.  He is a board member of the New England First Amendment Coalition and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, and a Fellow of the Maine Bar Foundation, American Bar Foundation, and Litigation Counsel of America. He is also a member of the Defense Counsel Section of the Media Law Resource Center.