Judge Imposes Temporary Gag Order in Vance Boelter State Case
The order halts public comments to protect juror impartiality and could alter whether the Nov. 2 trial proceeds as scheduled.
Overview
- A judge on Wednesday issued a temporary gag order that bars victims, witnesses, attorneys and Vance Boelter from speaking publicly about the Hennepin County case while the court sets final limits.
- Boelter faces state counts including two first‑degree murder and multiple attempted‑murder charges that prosecutors pursue separately from his earlier federal convictions.
- Defense lawyers filed a motion on Sept. 30 asking to delay the Nov. 2 trial because of an extensive volume of discovery, a request the Hoffman family sharply criticized.
- Prosecutors asked for protective orders after finding blog posts Boelter published from jail and they want restrictions to apply to anyone acting on his behalf.
- A hearing on the gag order and the defense’s delay request is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, and its outcome could decide how evidence, witness speech and the trial timetable are handled going forward.