ORLANDO, Fla., May 2 (UPI) -- A Florida judge Monday refused to reconsider an earlier ruling limiting media access to jury selection in the Casey Anthony murder trial.
Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry denied a motion filed by Orlando media outlets over his plans to select a jury outside of Orange County and prohibit the media from publicizing the venue for the selection process.
Perry said the steps were necessary to ensure Anthony receives a fair trial on charges she murdered her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, in 2008. Perry said the trial would be the biggest ever held in Florida and could make a bigger public splash than the O.J. Simpson case in California, the Orlando Sentinel said.
The media's motion had argued the restrictions violated the right to access to a court proceeding.
Perry's plan for press coverage includes a confidentiality agreement for reporters and orders for them to neither announce the location of jury selection, which begins May 9, nor be at the courthouse prior to the start of the selection process.
Perry said journalists could use "independent sources" to report on the actual selection process.
