Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Brandon S. BUTLER
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2017-12-15
Citations: 231 So. 3d 604
Docket Number: No. 17-KK-1533
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Brandon S. BUTLER
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 231
Pages: 604–604

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Brandon S. BUTLER
No. 17-KK-1533
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
12/15/2017

Opinion:
ON SUPERVISORY WRITS TO THE TWENTY-SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF BOSSIER !
PER CURIAM:
11Writ granted. "It is axiomatic that the limitation on First Amendment freedoms must be 'no greater than is essential to the protection of the particular governmental interest involved.' " United States v. Brown, 218 F.3d 415, 429 (5th Cir. 2000) (quoting Procunier v. Martinez, 416 U.S. 396, 94 S.Ct. 1800, 1811, 40 L.Ed.2d 224 (1974)). We find that the gag order in the present case is not sufficiently- narrow to eliminate only that speech having a substantial, likelihood of materially impairing the district court's ability to conduct a fair trial. Furthermore, it does not comport with the "general First Amendment principle that restrictions on speech should employ the least restrictive means possible." Id. at 430. Accordingly, we vacate the district court's order and remand for further proceedings.
REVERSED AND REMANDED