United States v. Simon

CARDAMONE, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal by news agencies from an order restraining trial participants in a criminal case from speaking with the press. Appellants urge that secrecy of the sort imposed by this “gag” order seriously compromises the right of the press to publish. In this case the district court was faced with what it described as a “shameful abuse of grand jury secrecy,” which it concluded was reasonably likely to influence the outcome of defendants’ trial. Because it is the obligation of the federal courts to ensure that a defendant receive a fair trial by an impartial jury,…