Haitian Man Ordered to Suppress Speech About Case

Source: The First Amendment Center

By Meghan Winston

Initially, Lyglenson Lemorin, 33, was scheduled to be deported to Haiti; however, when he was acquitted from his immigration charges, a US District judge required that he not speak about the associated criminal case. Because Lemorin was also set to act as a defense witness in the trial of the “Liberty City Seven,” a miniature terrorist group based in Miami, the US District judge extended a gag order to not only the defense and prosecuting lawyers, but also to Lemorin. In this way, it could be argued that the government is infringing upon Lemorin’s First Amendment rights. The media law question here is whether or not this man, who faced deportation from the United States, should have his free speech rights protected under the First Amendment.