Just days after former baseball star Roger Clemens was indicted on perjury charges in Washington, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton threw a brushback pitch to let everyone know who’s in charge. Citing public statements from Clemens, his lawyers and others, Walton on Aug. 23 issued an order telling the parties to keep their mouths shut — at least outside of court. Walton stressed his concern about finding and seating an impartial jury.
But Walton himself wasn’t entirely quiet. The next day, he explained to lawyers in an unrelated hearing how he picked up the Clemens case and how he hopes it will go to trial by spring 2011. Clemens and his lawyers, including Houston’s Rusty Hardin, stopped talking, but the gag order won’t bar commentators. “Judge Walton can’t control that,” noted Stanley Brand of Washington’s Brand Law Group. Clemens is due to be arraigned Aug. 30. — Mike Scarcella
