D.C. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 53

(a) Disclosures by Courthouse Personnel. All courthouse supporting personnel,

including among others, marshals, court clerks, law clerks, messengers and court

reporters, must not disclose to any person information relating to any pending criminal

proceeding that is not part of the public records of the court without specific

authorization of the court, nor may any such personnel discuss the merits or

personalities involved in any such proceeding with any members of the public.

(b) Photographing, Broadcasting, Recording.

(1) Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the taking of

photographs, the use of any recording device, and any form of broadcasting in the

Superior Court are prohibited.

(2) Exceptions.

(A) Photographs may be taken and recording devices used at ceremonial functions

and educational activities.

(B) Photographs may be taken and recording devices used in any room other than a

courtroom, its adjacent anterooms, the cellblock, the corridors and the lobby, with the

permission of the person in charge of the room and of the person being photographed

or recorded.

(C) A judge or a magistrate judge may permit the taking of photographs or the use

of recording devices for the presentation or preservation of evidence or perpetuation of

the record.

(c) Release of Information by or Opinions of Counsel. Neither an attorney who has

undertaken the representation of a defendant nor the attorney for the government,

whether the case is in progress or is imminent, shall release or authorize the release of

information not in the public record for dissemination by any means of public

communication which is likely to interfere with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due

administration of justice. No statement by any such attorney may be so disseminated

containing the attorney's opinion as to guilt or innocence, as to credibility of witnesses,

as to motives of the other party, or as to similar matters bearing on the conduct of the

litigation.

(d) Widely Publicized or Sensational Cases. In a widely publicized or sensational

criminal case, the court on motion of either party or on its own motion, may issue a

special order governing such matters as extrajudicial statements by parties and

witnesses likely to interfere with the rights of the accused and of the government to a

fair trial by an impartial jury, the seating and conduct in the courtroom of spectators and

news media representatives, the management and sequestration of jurors and

witnesses and any other matters which the court may deem appropriate in the

administration of justice.