Current practice in Swedish courts is that as much as possible should be public. That is, anyone should be able to request information and documents.
That documents should, as far as possible, be public is important for confidence in the judiciary, according to Robert Eneljung. Both among the general public and for journalists' opportunities to access documents and review the legal chain.
"It's important to have as much transparency as possible," says Robert Eneljung.
Both in the case involving murder and arson in Alby and regarding the fatal shooting in Tullinge, prosecutors have cited a threat to the suspects' relatives as a reason for the district court to consider whether it should be classified personal data.
Do not believe in new practice
Lawman Robert Eneljung does not believe the two high-profile cases are indicative of a new practice to protect relatives from acts of violence.
" I understand the risk and that it has increased, but I don't think it will lead to an increase in the use of this approach. The risk of this "derailing" and everything becoming secret, I think, is very small, says Eneljung.
Legal expert Sven-Erik Alhem agrees that the risk has increased, but emphasizes that the issue is complex and that there are reasons for making such confidentiality decisions given the extreme situation we are in.
"There are always risks associated with deviating from the principle of the greatest possible transparency when it comes to the judiciary. But we must also constantly take into account what the development looks like, and especially in the serious gang crime, he says.