Oregon DA says judge's gag order violates DA's free speech

(AP) — A prosecutor said a judge's gag order in a murder case infringes on his ability to consult with the victim's family members and on his rights to communicate with the citizens he was elected to represent.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel is pushing back against Circuit Court Judge Michael Adler's Aug. 18 order barring all parties in the case, including all lawyers and the DA's office, from talking about the trial outside the courtroom.

The objection, obtained by The Associated Press via online court records, was filed on Monday by the Oregon Attorney General.

The motion asserted that Hummel has a right as an elected public official to account for the conduct of his office, and that if he decides to ask a jury to impose the death penalty on Lara if he is convicted, that "the citizens deserve more" than being informed about it after the trial.