[video=twitter;836689045505912833]https://twitter.com/13wmaznews/status/836689045505912833[/video]
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The Judge is overreaching beyond her power and control, imo. She cant demand either of these families to stay quiet for years before the trial is held. They are individual citizens with constitutional rights. They have a first amendment right to free speech and she has no judicial power over them. This is what often happens in a small town with a small town Judge who panics when they get thrown into a high profile case.
Now she does have a right to implement a gag order on the Prosecutor and team and the defense attorneys of RD.
She is kidding herself if she thinks a gag order now is going to help this case. This case has been in the news all over the country and internationally known for over 11.5 years now. Its like trying to put a small bandage over a gaping wound expecting that will close it up tight when it will not.
Even after the gag order was implemented wasn't it after then the GBI told the press they are looking for Tara's remains on the pecan orchid farm? I am not sure if her gag order can apply to them either since they aren't under her jurisdictional control and are a state agency unto themselves.
I think the GBI will come out to the press if they indeed find Tara's remains. I think Tara's family has every constitutional right to speak out about the loss of Tara if they so choose and if his family wants to come forth and defend him that is also their right.
I agree with the attorney in the previous article linked here. Gag orders go against the constitution and our first amendment right to free speech. Especially this one which is overly broad and far reaching. If the families countered the gag order using a lawyer I believe they would most definitely win.
Does anyone know if he will have a preliminary hearing and if this Judge will be the presiding trial Judge? I do hope a PH is held because much more evidence is learned and she cant keep the media out of a public courtroom. However; I do hope there will be another Judge assigned as the trial Judge in the case.
It concerns me that she thinks she has the right to hush everyone even remotely connected to this case. Even when gag orders are in place seasoned Judges never include the victim's family members or the defendant's family members for they know better.