⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Seventh Circuit hears a fight over former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley's videotaped testimony. Alonzo Smith says Chicago detectives tortured him into a false murder confession. He spent nearly twenty years in prison; his convictions were vacated and the charges dismissed in two thousand fifteen. Smith sued Daley and others over the alleged abuse. Daley gave a video deposition, meaning sworn testimony taken before trial, but a protective order barred release of the recording. The suit settled, and documentary filmmaker Bob Hercules asked a judge to lift the order. The judge refused, treating the video as unfiled discovery rather than a public court record, and crediting Daley's medical privacy. Federal Rule twenty-six allows a protective order for good cause. Hercules will argue no judge actually found good cause to keep this particular video confidential, and that public interest favors release. Daley will argue the order was justified, remains binding, and protects his medical privacy. Stephen Match of Loevy and Loevy will argue for Hercules; Terrence Burns of Burns Noland will argue for Daley.

Alonzo Smith v. Richard Daley (No. 25-2933) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 28, 2026.