Access to trial transcripts
John Wesley Patton v. Louisiana
In brief
- Where it stands
- Dismissed
Petition denied.
- What it’s about
- John Wesley Patton argued that Louisiana denied him trial transcripts and courtroom audio he needed to challenge his trial and seek post-conviction review, and that a state law restricting access to audio was unconstitutional.
- Who it affects
- The denial ended Patton's Supreme Court case without resolving his claims about access to trial records.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.

What it's about
The Supreme Court refused to hear his case and did not decide whether Louisiana violated the Constitution.
Patton's filing linked access to courtroom records with his effort to challenge his conviction and seek post-conviction review.
Question presented
1. Can a Louisiana District Judge, namely, Steven C. Grefer, 24 th Judicial District Court, in Division “ J ” in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, act as the Impartial gatekeeper, use his judgeship to convict you, then deny you the very Records, Transcripts, that would prove you did not receive a fair trial as required by the United States Constitution? 2. Is this Due Process of Law as Required by United States Constitution? 3. Did the State of Louisiana meet its compliance to the US Constitution? 4. Is the Louisiana Revised Statute, R.S. 44:4(47), that affectively bars any Louisiana Attorney or Louisiana Citizen the right to review the Audio of the transcripts sought? 5. Even after the Official Record has been changed? 6. Is that Statute Constitutionally sound? 7. Thereby providing corrupt Judges, Clerks or Prosecutors an unchecked reason to change the record? 8. Is that State Statute Constitutional? 9. Can any Louisiana Citizen ever expect to receive a Fair Post Conviction Review, or meet the high burden required by Louisiana Post Conviction Law Article 930.2, when Louisiana repeatedly Refuses to Provide Pro-Se Petitioner ’ s, Citizens, a Free Copy of the Very Trial Transcripts that Proves Their Claims? 10. Is this Louisiana practice Constitutional? 11. Is Louisiana repeated denials of Citizens, Defendants efforts to acquire their courtroom hearing, trial transcripts a complete failure of Louisiana compliance with its United States Constitution obligations?
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Brief added: Petition
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.