Gag order issued in trial of Workman

At the urging of special prosecutor Mike Martinez, 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton on Tuesday issued a gag order on attorneys and parties in the Nancy Workman trial, prohibiting them from talking to the media.

Martinez has often complained about what he calls attempts by Workman's camp to "taint the jury pool" and sway public opinion through public denunciation of the charges against her. Martinez unsuccessfully tried to persuade Judge Robert Hilder to put a gag order in place last October, but Atherton proved more sympathetic.

"I think that's appropriate," she said.

Atherton also cautioned jury members to avoid any exposure to the case outside of the courtroom, either through the media or through casual discussions.

"You must not read anything, hear anything, watch anything," she said.