Judge keeping R. Kelly documents sealed

CHICAGO, May 17 (UPI) -- Court documents in the child pornography trial of singer R. Kelly will remain sealed despite a media request to see them, a judge in Chicago has ruled.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan wrote in his decision this week that despite a request from multiple news organizations, court documents related to the case would remain sealed until the end of the trial in the interest of fairness, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday.

"Of paramount concern is that the defendant gets a fair trial," Gaughan said in his decision. "The torrent of media interest in this case has prompted entry of the order which prevents the serious and imminent threat that this case would be tried in the media."

While the judge's decision significantly limits media coverage of the 41-year-old "Ignition" singer's trial, he did recognize how important the media has become in today's legal system.

"If it wasn't for the press, we wouldn't have the type of justice we have today," he said. "Nobody wants to inhibit the press."

The Sun-Times said Kelly, whose full name is Robert Kelly, is accused of having sex with an underage girl who could have been as young as 13 years old when the incident allegedly took place.