The Denver Post
12 media groups hit Bryant gag order
Saturday, August 07, 2004 -
Twelve news organizations have told the judge presiding over the Kobe Bryant case that a sweeping gag order he imposed on participants in the pending trial is unconstitutional.
State District Judge Terry Ruckriegle slapped the order on virtually all people connected with the case hours after attorneys for Bryant's accuser appeared Wednesday on national television. Lin Wood and John Clune appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" and on MSNBC's "The Abrams Report." In an interview the same day with The Denver Post, Wood said that mistakes by court authorities, including the publication of the accuser's name and the e-mailing of closed rape-shield hearing transcripts, resulted in the release of information "so prejudicial that the damage to my client is beyond repair." Wood said that to "level the playing field," the 20-year-old likely would file a civil lawsuit in Denver and evaluate whether she wanted to proceed with the criminal case. In the civil case, the standard of proof is less, which could open the way for a verdict in the accuser's favor. Those gagged by Ruckriegle included the alleged victim and her agents, including Wood and Clune; all witnesses; all people who have attended closed hearings; prosecutors; Bryant and his agents; and anyone who shares an office with those named. Among the media organizations appealing is The Denver Post. The gag order also brought a protest from David Lugert, an Eagle lawyer who shares an office but is not a law partner with Clune. Lugert is under contract as an on-air legal commentator for CBS News and Viacom
"This order is harmful to, and negatively impacts, my work as a legal analyst in this matter," Lugert said. Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com .
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