Watch here, prosecution in the George Zimmeman murder trial, present its gag order on defense before a Judge Debra Nelson. Prosecution wants judge to demand defense minimum interaction with the media.
Watch the live broadcast of the hearing here.
Last week, Prosecutors accused defense of excessively engaging the Media.
According to the gag order filed by Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda in Seminole County Circuit Court, defense "This case has continued to have an inordinate amount of media coverage... Unless defense counsel stops talking to the media about the case, in person or by use of the defendant's website, it will be more difficult to find jurors who have not been influenced by media accounts of the case," as reported by newsmax.com
Various media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today have filed a joint petition opposing the gag order, arguing that the prosecutors are trying to violate the First Amendment rights of the press.
The media petition says, "Incredibly, the State seeks this drastic relief without citing or coming forward with any evidence relating to - much less satisfying - the demanding standard governing the issuance of 'gag orders," according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Zimmerman was arrested in February for the killing of the 17-year-old, Zimmerman who was armed shot Martin after claiming that he was attacked by the teenager and fired in an act of self-defense. The 28-year-old Zimmerman has maintained the claim to self-defense from the beginning of the case.
In July, the Florida judge set Zimmerman's bail for $1 million, after previously revoking a $150,000 bond, for misleading the court about his finances.
He has been released from jail on bond, but under strict conditions including a round the clock GPS monitoring system.
Court hearing for trial has been set for June 10.
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