Judge Issues Gag Order in Freddie Gray Case

The judge presiding over the Freddie Gray case has issued a “gag order” for the duration of the proceedings or until further notice.

A gag order means that the proceedings in a case may not be publicly discussed.

The case at hand involves six Baltimore Police officers charged in the detainment of Gray, a 25-year-old Baltimore man who was arrested in April and died a week later from what officials said was a spinal injury in police custody.

After Gray’s funeral in late April, riots erupted in parts of Baltimore City, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest.

In the days that followed, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six officers, ranging from reckless endangerment to second-degree murder.

A judge recently determined the officers will have six separate trials, the first on Nov. 30 and the last on March 9.

To protect their right to a fair trial, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams issued the gag order this week.

“There is a substantial likelihood that certain forms of publicity, such as extrajudicial statements by the parties involved in this case to members of the press or media, could impair the rights of the defendant, the state and the public to a fair trial by an impartial jury,” the order from Williams states.

According to the gag order, the officers, their lawyers and the state’s attorney’s office must refrain from making public statements about the case outside the courtroom. They are also prohibited from reposting statements they previously made. In addition to those directly involved, the order applies to agents, employees and representatives of those affiliated with the lawyers or officers.

“It shall remain in force until the conclusion of this case or until further order of this court,” the document states.

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Previously, lawyers for the police officers attempted to have the trials moved out of Baltimore, citing several factors including the deluge of press coverage.

The proceedings have attracted widespread attention, with media outlets from as far away as France attending pretrial hearings.

Williams said that media reports have been “ubiquitous,” and at a hearing last month to determine whether Baltimore would be an appropriate venue, he stated: “In this day and age, what does one do with a high-profile case?”

Apparently, issue a gag order. Or six.