A Nevada Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday may shed light on a private legal battle over the future control of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post. The case, ongoing in Reno, has largely remained secretive, with many documents sealed. Reports from The New York Times reveal that Murdoch aims to ensure that his son, Lachlan, remains in charge and maintains Fox News’s conservative stance.
Media organizations, including The Times and The Associated Press, are urging the Supreme Court to unseal the proceedings. The dispute centers on Murdoch’s family trust, which would equally distribute control among his four children—Lachlan, Prudence, Elisabeth, and James—after his death. Irrevocable trusts are designed to limit estate taxes and typically cannot be modified without beneficiary consent or court approval. However, Rupert Murdoch is attempting to change the trust, facing opposition from Prudence, Elisabeth, and James, who reportedly have differing political views that could affect the media’s direction.
The case has seen various developments, including a December ruling by a probate commissioner who criticized Murdoch’s proposed changes to the trust as a strategy to secure Lachlan’s position “regardless of the impacts” on the trust’s beneficiaries. Rupert Murdoch’s attorney expressed disappointment with this decision and indicated plans to appeal. As the legal saga continues, another evidentiary hearing is set for later this month, which may further unravel the complexities surrounding control of the influential media empire.
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