JERSEY COURT VOIDS TWO 'GAGS' ON PRESS; It Upsets Rulings in Murder Cases in Which Trial Judges Issued Orders of 'Prior Restraint'
Date: 23 April 1977
By WALTER H. WAGGONER Special to The New York Times
Walter WAGGONER
NJ Sup Ct unanimously strikes down as 'clearly illegal' any order by judge that would prohibit press from reptg proceedings in open ct; ruling overturns Appellate Ct decisions in 2 cases involving unrelated murder trials at which trial judges had issued orders of prior restraint that barred pub of arguments and other matters within courtroom but outside presence of jury; challenges to orders were brought by Bridgewater Courier News, Home News of New Brunswick and Trenton Times (M)