The battle for the Murdoch clan’s succession will go to court next month, but the case will be conducted in secret.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 93, is seeking to disenfranchise his children Prudence, James and Elisabeth in favour of his right-wing son and chosen heir, Lachlan.
The drama is reflected in the television show Succession, which follows three siblings vying for power over their gruff father’s media empire.
The real-world repercussions of the legal action – set to take place on September 16 in Washoe County Second Judicial District Court in Reno, Nevada – could have significant effects on the political and media landscape in the United States.
All the main parties are expected to attend the five-day fight at the neoclassical courthouse, once famed as the divorce capital of the United States.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 93, is seeking to disenfranchise his children Prudence, James and Elisabeth in favour of his right-wing son and chosen heir, Lachlan (pictured together in 2018).
The drama is reflected in the television show Succession, which follows three siblings vying for power over their gruff father’s media empire.
James has been a vocal critic of Fox News’ embrace of Donald Trump and has a political stance that is at odds with his father’s. He left Fox News when Lachlan took over. Lachlan is currently chairman of News Corp, whose publications include the Wall Street Journal and the Sun, and chairman and chief executive of Fox Corp.
Murdoch’s decision to name Lachlan as his heir has reportedly alienated him from his three eldest children. His daughters Prudence and Elizabeth are pictured (left and right)
Steps are already being taken to deny the family the confidentiality granted to them by a judge.
Last week, an individual working for a judicial website became the first to challenge plans to keep the case secret, saying it was “unconstitutional.”
Alex Falconi of Our Nevada Judges said state law prevents judges from making court cases completely confidential. He complained that the court clerk had refused to disclose the dates and times of hearings, the existence of the case and the names of attorneys.
Falconi also questioned the secrecy of 360 court documents. He said: “The secrecy order unconstitutionally interferes with press access to the courtroom and violates Supreme Court rules. Any and all secrecy orders in this case should also be declassified.”
Despite the secrecy surrounding the case, The New York Times reported that the action is related to Murdoch’s efforts to change the terms of the trust that controls his media empire to give Lachlan a majority that cannot be challenged once he dies.
Murdoch argues that only Lachlan can maintain the conservative editorial stance of Fox and News Corp, which he adopted in 2019, and that the others could damage it commercially because they are more liberal.
A leaked pre-trial document reportedly suggests Murdoch could modify the trust if he can prove he is acting in good faith and for the sole benefit of his heirs. The upcoming trial will determine that.
A spokesman for Murdoch did not respond to a request for comment.