South Bend Tribune v. Elkhart Circuit Court

OPINION

GARRARD, Judge.

The South Bend Tribune, WSBT-TV, WSBT-Radio, the Elkhart Truth, and WTRC. (collectively “Media”) appeal the trial court’s denial of its motion to quash the gag order placed on the trial participants in a local murder trial, claiming the gag order was an impermissible prior restraint upon their First Amendment rights.

We affirm.

FACTS

The gag order at issue here was initially issued on July 16,1997 by Judge Gene Duffin to prevent the participants in the murder retrial 1 of Ricky Joyner (“Joyner”) from speaking with the media. 2 Shortly after Judge Duffin entered the gag…