Kan. high court asks judge in abortion shooting case to rethink media ban in jury selection
By APTuesday, January 12, 2010
Kan. court orders judge to rethink media ban
WICHITA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered the judge in the murder trial of the man who has confessed to killing an abortion provider to reconsider a decision to ban reporters from jury selection.
Four news outlets, including The Associated Press, had asked the court to overturn Judge Warren Wilbert’s decision last week to ban reporters from jury selection.
Wilbert said he closed the proceedings to accommodate the large jury pool and to avoid creating a “chilling effect” on juror candor.
News outlets argued the ban would wrongly keep the public away from the process.
It was unclear late Tuesday what effect the high court’s order would have on the start of jury selection, scheduled for Wednesday.
Scott Roeder has confessed to killing abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, saying it was necessary to save unborn children.
