Hopefully Justin Bieber and his ever-expanding tapestry of tattoos had a great time in the Bahamas for his 20th birthday . Because from hereon in, it’s legal central all the way.
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Judge William Altfield finally settled the pesky question of whether remaining jail videos — two of which contain sensitive semi-clad footage of Bieber filmed at Miami Beach Police Station following his January arrest on suspicion of DUI — will be released as per a public records request by news media organizations.
In the hearing Judge Altfield said two videos depicting — or appearing to depict — Bieber’s genitalia during a urine test for drugs at Miami Beach police station will be either blacked out or blurred under his supervision by a Miami-Dade State’s Attorney supplied video technician to protect the singer’s privacy, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge William Altfield said the First Amendment right of the media to publish was not a factor in his decision, but said he weighed the public’s right to know against Bieber’s privacy rights while he was an inmate in custody.
While declaring the jail videos were public record once handed over to the defense during discovery, he also agreed with Justin’s legal team – led by Roy Black – that airing “intimate” or “potentially embarrassing” content would infringe Bieber’s right to privacy. As such, the footage will be restricted by redaction before public disclosure.
“Mr. Bieber’s right to privacy is paramount,” the judge said at one point in the hearing. “He has not lost his right to privacy and that is what is important here.”
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Three other unreleased videos will not be redacted and are believed to show Bieber walking in and out of a holding cell. Black later told media that footage in these clips was filmed from too far away to tell what’s happening. Both Black and media attorneys said they are satisfied with Judge Altfield’s decision.
Last week over 10 hours of jail footage of Bieber at Miami Beach police station when he was booked after his January 23 arrest with pal and R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff during what police described as an illegal street drag race, was released.
These followed Miami police’s release of a pat down video of Bieber, and showed the singer unsteadily attempting to walk a line during a station sobriety test and another doing pushups in his holding cell.
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A toxicology report revealed Bieber had a small amount of alcohol, the active ingredient of marijauna and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his system at the time of is arrest. The singer has pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI, resisting arrest without violence and driving with an expired license.
At the end of the Tuesday hearing, Black waived the defense’s right to a speedy trial and March 11 has been scheduled where a new trial date and other business will be decided, unless a plea deal is reached beforehand.
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Miami police rolled out images of Bieber being made to display his “identifying marks” – in other words, his tattoos – to tide us over until the release of thoroughly gratuitous jail videos .
Fill your boots on some of Bieber’s tattoo photos above and below. Check out the complete gallery here .
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(Photo 8 and all tattoo images credited to Miami Beach police).