Judge Refuses Request for More Openness in R. Kelly Trial
A Chicago judge has refused a media request to open pretrial proceedings in the prosecution of singer R. Kelly on a child-pornography charge.
Judge Vincent Gaughan has ousted reporters from some pretrial hearings in the case against Kelly, who is accused of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl, the Chicago Tribune reports. The judge has also sealed court documents and placed a gag order on the lawyers and others involved in the case.
Another closed hearing is scheduled for today. “As soon as the trial is over, the press will have access,” Gaughan has promised.
Gaughan traveled to California to learn how officials handled the molestation prosecution of Michael Jackson, which was also shrouded in secrecy during pretrial proceedings. Jackson was acquitted in the case. Critics have criticized media clampdowns in high-profile cases as “celebrity First Amendment carve outs,” according to a January 2005 story in the ABA Journal.
Gaughan has maintained “a steel-tight grip” on the case against R. Kelly, the Tribune says. He has banned cell phones and BlackBerrys from the courtroom. In one instance, he jailed a fan who took a picture of the singer during a pretrial hearing.
