California Station Fights Gag Order

By Stephanie Tsoflias Siegel 

KSBY is fighting a court imposed gag order in a high profile gang trial, reports the Santa Maria Sun.

The San Luis Obispo, California NBC affiliate has teamed up with the California Broadcasters Association, according to the paper.  Together they have prepared a motion to dismiss the order that was handed to media outlets earlier this month.

12 gang members from the area are accused of committing murders across Santa Maria in 2014. An attorney for one of the gang members on trial filed the order stating that the media is biased.

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“The United States Supreme Court has considered prior restraints in many contexts, and found them unjustified even in the face of admittedly legitimate threats to national security,” the paper says KSBY attorney Guylyn Cummings wrote in the motion.

As you know, while gag orders can be constitutional it is not common. The judge has yet to make a decision in this case.

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