A United States appeals court has upheld a judge's order barring the media from speaking with jurors involved in last month's $1 billion lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) Inc.
The order was mandated by U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela shortly after the case was settled out of court on Aug. 24 following four days of jury deliberations.
Vela's decision has drawn petitions of protest from several news organizations that claim it violates the First Amendment.
The appeals court reportedly upheld the order in compliance with jurors' desires not to communicate with reporters about the case.
