Hello, friends:

        This letter was delivered to Judge Whyte this morning.  Perhaps 
each of you would like to request a hearing, to explain why your email 
should not be turned over to the church.  Perhaps some of you would have 
some remarks about the consequences to third parties.  Perhaps you will 
think of better arguments than I did.

        This letter will be in a new **Biased Journalism** so please 
regard it as confidential until I publish it.  I might not do so until the 
Judge makes an answer, which I think he will do shortly.  [That's because 
the Plaintiffs requested accelerated discovery and he granted it.]

        <hkhenson@cup.portal.com> lives close enough to the courthose in 
San Jose to hand deliver your letters.  As a defendant, I presume Grady 
Ward has the Judge's fax number.  If you send something to the Judge 
Grady should have a copy too.  Perhaps he can even fax it in for you.
Grady's phone number is (707) 826-7172.  

        If you're going to do something, do it quickly.  

Shelley
-----------

Shelley Thomson
236 Stanford S/C, Suite 142
Palo Alto, CA 94304

Hon. Ronald M. Whyte, Federal Judge
Northern District of California
San Jose, CA 

April 4, 1996

No. C 96-20207 RMW


Hand Delivered Letter to Judge Whyte

Dear Judge Whyte:

        I am the publisher of **Biased Journalism**, a news/humor 
magazine covering issues of interest to citizens of cyberspace.  Among 
other events the Journal has covered a series of hearings now taking 
place in your courtroom.    

        I was shocked to see my name on the list of documents demanded by 
Plaintiffs from Mr. Ward.  The relevant selection from the Notice of 
Deposition of Defendant Grady Ward and Request for Production of 
Documents And Things is the following:

>13. Any and all documents relating to communications with the following
>individuals relating to the Advanced Technology:
>
>a. Alex DeJoode
>b. Dennis Erlich
>c. Steven Fishman
>d. Johan Helsingius
>e. Jeff Jacobsen
>f. Keith Henson
>g. Tom Klemesrud
>h. Arnaldo Lerma
>i. Peter Mante
>j. Ron Neuman          
>k. Robert Penny
>l. Felipe Rodriquez
>m. Karin Spaink
>n. Shelly Thomson  ***
>o. David Touretzky
>p. Lawrence Wollersheim

**Biased Journalism** has carried many stories about scientology.  As a 
journalist, I strongly protest the inclusion of my name on this list.  
The exposure of my private communication would have an extreme
chilling effect upon my ability to gather and publish news.  It is an 
infringement of my rights under the First Amendment.  Moreover, it might 
expose third parties to harm.  

With reference to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (section 
2700-2707 of Title 18 USC), it is my understanding that lawful access to 
stored electronic communications requires a warrant or a court order.  

Even if the ECPA were disregarded, I suggest to Your Honor that the right 
to privacy of Mr. Ward's correspondents should be protected.  I believe 
that at minimum, Plaintiffs should be required to show cause for their 
request for each person's correspondence individually.  

I request such a hearing on my own behalf, so that I may explain to the 
court why my correspondence with Grady Ward should not be delivered to 
the Plaintiffs.    

                                Sincerely yours,

                                Shelley Thomson                                                                 
                                publisher, **Biased Journalism**
                                sthomson@netcom.com