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Thursday, September 25, 1997
Morales argues against gag order
AUSTIN (AP) -- Texas Attorney General Dan Morales says a federal
judge overseeing the state's $14 billion lawsuit against the tobacco
industry shouldn't prohibit his office or tobacco representatives
from talking about the case.
Morales on Wednesday filed a seven-page argument against a
proposed gag order after U.S. District Judge David Folsom in Texarkana
said he was considering it.
"This case involves questions of immense public interest,
not only in Texas, but nationwide," Morales wrote in his
plea to the court.
Morales said there is no reason for a pre-emptive effort to
keep either side from saying anything that could unfairly affect
the case.
"To the state's knowledge, there have been no incidents
posing such a danger in the more than 17 months that the case
has been pending," Morales said.
Lawyers for the tobacco industry were expected to file their
written arguments Thursday. The judge has scheduled a hearing
on the question for Tuesday.
Attorneys for the tobacco industry have said they believe Morales
has made statements damaging to the trial. In a motion filed last
week, tobacco attorneys asked Folsom to punish Morales for comparing
their industry to murderers. They also asked that Morales not
be allowed to address the jury in the case.
Morales filed the lawsuit in 1996, seeking to recoup state
and federal money spent on medical treatments for Medicaid patients
with smoking-related illnesses.
Formal jury selection begins Oct. 6.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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