Prince- case judge faces raft of filings

CHASKA, Minn. — A Minnesota judge overseeing Prince’s estate said Thursday that he’ll consider allowing cameras in court on a hearing- by- hearing basis, but broader questions about access into the business dealings of the late superstar’s entertainment empire — and the many potential heirs claiming a stake to it — will have to wait.

Media organizations, including The Associated Press, have asked Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide to guarantee public access in the case. Prince, who died April 21 of a drug overdose, had no known will. With no living parents or established children, it’s up to the court to sort out which siblings and people claiming to be his offspring will benefit.

Eide has sealed some court filings from potential heirs, and the special administrator handling Prince’s fortune has requested a blanket order to seal all business deals. The judge said he’s trying to balance protecting the privacy of the fastpaced entertainment business world and the private histories of Prince’s potential heirs while also serving the vast public interest in his life and legacy.

After initially banning both cameras and sketch artists from the courtroom during previous hearings, Eide said Thursday that he may grant future requests based on the content of a given hearing.

Leita Walker, the attorney for news outlets, argued that any proceedings and filings regarding questions of paternity should be public.

“We’re dealing with adults who voluntarily entered themselves into this process for the sole purpose of obtaining a piece of Prince’s estate,” she said.

An attorney for Brianna and Victoria Nelson, two potential heirs who initially requested that proceedings be closed and cameras banned, said Thursday that they’ve reversed that position.

But Doug Peterson of Bremer Trust, the court- appointed special estate administrator, said a more cautious approach should be considered, given claimants may have sensitive and private stories.