[VISION] | PEOPLE: There are no people visible in the image. | TEXT: ``` UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK United States of America, -v- Ghislaine Maxwell, Defendant. ALISON J. NATHAN, District Judge: The Defense on December 12, 2021, moved to permit three anticipated witnesses to testify under a pseudonym or their first names only. The Government filed a letter opposing this request on December 14, 2021. The Defense's primary contention is that some form of anonymity for its witnesses is justified by the same reasons that the Court permitted three alleged victims and two related government witnesses to testify under pseudonyms. The Court disagrees with this basic premise and denies the Defense's motion. "By convention, most witness examinations begin with an introduction of the witness to the fact finder, including the witness's name, education, residence, work history, family etc. Such background gives the fact finder some insight into who the witness is while also serving to steady the witness's nerves." 30 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure, Evidence § 6408 (2d ed. 2021); see Alford v. United States, 282 U.S. 687, 691-92 (1931). That presumption of identification is based, in part, on the "firmly established" principle that "the press and general public have a constitutional right of access to criminal trials . . . embodied in the First Amendment." Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Ct. for Norfolk Cnty., 457 U.S. 596, 603 (1982). "There are rare instances, however, when it may be appropriate . . . to preclude . . . inquiring into the witness's identity and background." Wright & Miller, supra, § 6408. ``` | OBJECTS: - A document titled "UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK" - A stamp indicating "USDC SDNY DOCUMENT ELECTRONICALLY FILED DOC # DATE FILED: 12/15/21" - A section labeled "MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER" - A reference to "Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 548 Filed 12/15/21 Page 1 of 6" | SETTING: - The