Lawyer seeks gag order in Sandra Bland lawsuit Court filings says Chronicle coverage of new revelations unfair to defendants

The attorney for Waller County says the Houston Chronicle's coverage of Sandra Bland's controversial traffic stop and death could taint the legal process. (Photo provided by Bland family) The attorney for Waller County says the Houston Chronicle's coverage of Sandra Bland's controversial traffic stop and death could taint the legal process. (Photo provided by Bland family) Photo: HONS Photo: HONS Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Lawyer seeks gag order in Sandra Bland lawsuit 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Waller County's attorney has asked a federal judge for a protective order in the lawsuit filed by Sandra Bland's mother, saying the Chronicle's coverage of new revelations in the controversial case could taint the legal process.

The request filed Thursday asks U.S. District Judge David Hittner to prohibit all parties from discussing the case outside court and to seal all sworn depositions gathered in the federal wrongful death case filed by Geneva Reed-Veal.

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It cites a Chronicle report on July 22 that a former Waller County jail guard admitted under oath that he falsified entries on a jail log by indicating he had checked on Bland in the hour before she died when he did not. The report quotes Reed-Veal's attorney, Cannon Lambert, and an unidentified source close to the investigation.

"Given the pervasive media coverage surrounding this litigation, and plaintiff's counsel's demonstrated willingness to manipulate it for favorable attention, a protective order is necessary to avoid a 'carnival atmosphere,' " according to the filing by attorney Larry J. Simmons, who represents the Waller County defendants in the civil suit.

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The disclosures present a "one-sided, limited view of the potential evidence in this litigation, often out of context, and thus creating a risk that a fair and orderly trial cannot be achieved."

Bland, 28, died in the jail July 13, 2015, three days after she was arrested during a traffic stop with a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who pulled her over for failing to use a turn signal.

Her death, ruled a suicide, has become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement along with other deadly encounters between African-Americans and police.

The former jailer said he was following instructions by filling out the jail log in advance of making required rounds in the jail, the Chronicle reported.

Similar violations have led to criminal indictments or disciplinary actions against other Texas jailers. Tampering with a government document is a violation of state law.

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Bland's mother filed the federal lawsuit in Houston accusing county officials and law enforcement of "willful and wanton" negligence in her daughter's death.

The request filed Thursday seeking the sealing of depositions notes that the county has provided information that it believes Reed-Veal would want to keep confidential, including the contents of Bland's cell phone, the deposition of Reed-Veal and family members, and "other sensitive and potentially embarrassing and inflammatory evidence."

Federal court records did not indicate late Thursday that a hearing had been set on the request. The order was requested by the county employees and by DPS Trooper Brian Encinia, who is facing a misdemeanor perjury charge.