On Wednesday, the Nevada Supreme Court held a hearing that could shed light on a secretive legal battle over the future control of Rupert Murdoch’s extensive media empire, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post. The case has been ongoing in state court in Reno, with most documentation sealed, but reports, notably from The New York Times, have suggested that Murdoch is making efforts to consolidate control in the hands of his son, Lachlan, to maintain Fox News’s conservative editorial direction.
Media organizations including The New York Times and The Associated Press have petitioned the court to unseal the case and allow public access to future hearings. At the core of the dispute is Murdoch’s family trust, which dictates that, following his death, control of the media empire would be equally divided among his four children: Lachlan, Prudence, Elisabeth, and James. However, Rupert Murdoch has sought to modify the irrevocable trust, which would require unanimous consent or a court ruling for any changes. This has prompted pushback from Prudence, Elisabeth, and James, the latter two of whom hold less conservative views than their brother, potentially impacting the political direction of Fox News.
The legal struggle has seen various complexities, including a December ruling against Rupert Murdoch by a probate commissioner, who described attempts to alter the trust as a “carefully crafted charade” designed to secure Lachlan’s control over the empire. Murdoch’s legal representation indicated disappointment with this decision and confirmed plans to appeal, with more hearings anticipated later this month.
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