Judge issues gag order in Gosnell case

Common Pleas Court Judge Benjamin Lerner has imposed a gag order in the case of Kermit and Pearl Gosnell. Their lawyers won’t be allowed to talk to reporters at least until the case goes to trial.

 

The order came following a dispute over a search of Pearl Gosnell’s cell, the Inquirer reports. As she awaited release to house arrest, her cell was searched last week and letters exchanged with her husband were taken.

Until a hearing is scheduled to determine whether a search warrant — not just the subpoena that was used — is needed to search a cell, copies of the letters taken won’t be returned to Pearl Gosnell. No further searches can be conducted without a warrant.

Kermit Gosnell awaits trial on several counts of murder from his West Philadelphia abortion clinic. Pearl Gosnell will be tried for related charges for her assistance at the clinic.