Gag order is an order issued by a judge restricting the publication of news about a trial or a pretrial hearing to protect the accused's right to a fair trial.
- to guard against prejudicial publicity
- most (years following Sheppard) barred lawyers and other trial participants from commenting publicly about a case. (Indirect restrictions on media, by way of limiting potential sources.)
PRECEDENT: Pentagon Papers Case: gov't bears heavy burden of showing a legitimate national security threat before freedom of speech could be restrained on that ground.
