Court Rejects Proposed Gag Order on Criminal Defendant Police Officer

From U.S. v. Smith, decided Tuesday by Magistrate Judge John Love (E.D. Tex.):

On November 10, 2022, Defendant was indicted on one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242. The indictment charges that Defendant violated 18 U.S.C. § 242 when he directed his police dog, Mata, to bite a minor, R.E., while R.E. did not pose a threat that warranted the use of the police dog. The indictment charges the police dog caused bodily injury to R.E…. [T]he government filed … a request for this court to enter a gag order against Defendant Smith and his attorney….

The Supreme Court has called a gag order "one of the most extraordinary remedies known to our jurisprudence." If the district court determines that there is a "substantial likelihood" that extrajudicial commentary by trial participants will undermine a fair trial, then it may impose a gag order on the participants, as long as the order is also narrowly tailored and the least restrictive means available. Gag orders are appropriate for trial participants only when there is a substantial likelihood that comments from the lawyers and parties might taint the jury pool. The court must ensure they are narrowly drawn and the least restrictive corrective measure available to ensure a fair trial. Prior restraints on free speech are traditionally disfavored. For a prior restraint to stand, the government must demonstrate that (1) the activity restrained poses a clear and present danger or serious and imminent threat to compelling government interest; (2) less restrictive means to protect that interest are unavailable; and (3) the restraint is narrowly tailored to achieve its legitimate goal….

Although titled as a motion for protective order, the government's motion actually asks the court to enter a gag order in this case. The government contends there is a threat to a fair trial warranting a gag order in this case based upon: (1) a previous Facebook post made by Defendant Smith that contained content disclosing personal identifiable information of the minor victim contained in an arrest warrant; and (2) defense counsel's statements to the media where he attacked the victim's character, called him derogatory names, and referenced unadjudicated charges against him. Defendant contends the information regarding the minor in his arrest warrant was made public and that the government started a publicity fire when it released a press release first….

As to the first statement, the Facebook post has since been removed and the government has not made the court aware of any new statements that have been posted on social media since the initial now-removed post. The two media statements by defense counsel were made on November 11, 2022. The court is unaware of any additional media coverage or statements that have been made in the month since that time has passed, and the government has not made the court aware of any such statements.

The court has held numerous public hearings since the time of arrest and the media has not been present at any of those hearings, nor have they continued to cover the case. In other words, the news coverage has been insubstantial and has not been pervasive or constant. Defendant's status as a "public figure" as the Wood County constable does not in and of itself create an imminent risk without a showing of substantial likelihood based upon the facts. The parties have requested a continuance of the trial date until June 2023 and no additional statements have been made. As such, the court finds the risk of prejudice here to be low.

Moreover, the government has failed to demonstrate why a gag order is the least restrictive means available to address the concern of a fair trial. The government's submitted proposal is far too broad and does not appropriately limit the scope of the proposed order. The government has further failed to show why potential juror bias from exposure to extrajudicial commentary cannot be cured at the time of trial from searching questioning of potential jurors and clear jury instructions to disregard extrajudicial commentary. Indeed, though Defendant may be known in Wood County, this court's jury pool pulls from ten counties in the surrounding area including Rains, Van Zandt, Henderson, Anderson, Wood, Smith, Cherokee, Gregg, Rusk, and Panola counties.

The court is not convinced that the facts of this case warrant the extraordinary remedy of a gag order. The goals of the government can be achieved through less restrictive means such as an agreement between counsel, extensive voir dire, and clear jury instructions. As such, the court finds that the government's motion should be denied. The government is free to submit a revised motion for consideration should the need arise. Moreover, the parties are free to reach any mutually agreed understanding regarding statements to the media made regarding this case….