A judge has lifted an order that prevented a legal newspaper from publishing information found in court records that were supposed to have been shielded from public view. The Internet blog of the National Law Journal said Friday that the judge freed the newspaper to publish the information, which concerned an investigation of juicemaker POM Wonderful by the Federal Trade Commission. POM had fought to keep the investigating agency's name secret, but reversed course Friday and asked D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff to rescind her order. Bartnoff had ordered the records sealed, but they mistakenly remained available. POM said in a statement that it never intended to provoke a First Amendment fight over the issue. "POM is, and always has been, fervent supporters of and believers in the freedom of the press, and takes very seriously its commitment to transparency in all aspects of our business," the company said. Its request to the judge came as news organizations filed legal papers in support of the law journal that said Bartnoff's order lacked "any conceivable justification" and should be reversed immediately.
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