A judge has denied Taylor Frankie Paul's request to seal an upcoming hearing in her legal battle with Dakota Mortensen, ruling that the proceedings will remain open to the public.
During a status conference on Monday, Paul's attorney, Eric Swinyard, argued that the Thursday hearing would involve serious allegations from both sides and that the case has already drawn "hundreds of thousands of viewers" online. He warned that public access could have lasting repercussions for the couple's 2-year-old son, who might one day face questions from classmates about the deeply personal details of the dispute.
Swinyard also suggested that Mortensen may have been involved in leaking a 2023 incident video that TMZ obtained, though the judge was not swayed. The court made clear that the case will be handled like any other, despite the intense media attention surrounding the former couple, who gained fame on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
The denial means Thursday's protective order hearing will be open to the press and public, allowing further scrutiny of the explosive allegations that have already emerged, including troubling 911 audio and a police complaint.