Hudson family murders judge bars phones in court

[May 03, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The judge at the trial of a man accused of killing three of Jennifer Hudson's relatives has decided to bar journalists' cellphones from court.

He has been allowing their limited use during the first two weeks of trial so reporters could email news updates.

But a media liaison says Judge Charles Burns decided Wednesday he'd seen too many violations of media rules he set before trial.

They include bans on tweets, though liason Irv Miller says none of the violations involved Twitter. Several were phones ringing during testimony. The judge also believed one reporter was emailing too often.

The phone ban takes effect Thursday.

Hudson's former brother-in-law, William Balfour, is accused of killing the Oscar winner's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in an act of vindictiveness against his ex-wife.

[Associated Press]

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