Clermont judge issues ruling limiting what lawyers can say about Doerman case
A Clermont County judge issued a ruling Wednesday limiting what lawyers working on the case against Chad Doerman, a Monroe Township man accused of killing his three young sons, can say to reporters.
While outlining his ruling, Common Pleas Judge Richard Ferenc said prosecutors and defense attorneys cannot:
Discuss the merits of the case with reporters.
Talk about facts of the case or evidence that hasn't already been presented as part of the public record.
Make statements regarding the credibility of the defendant, investigators and witnesses.
Or discuss any theories about the case.
Any statements lawyers make about the case outside the courtroom must be limited to what has already been said in court, Ferenc said.
The ruling came in response to a motion by Doerman's public defenders, Gregory Meyers and Stephen Haynes, asking the court to prohibit "extrajudicial statements" by prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel pertaining to the case.
In court filings, the lawyers cited a comment Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve made to reporters after a June hearing, in which Tekulve said his "goal is to have this man executed for slaughtering these three boys."
Prosecutors say Doerman, 32, confessed to shooting and killing his sons, Clayton Doerman, 7, Hunter Doerman, 4, and Chase Doerman, 3, at their Monroe Township home on June 15. Court documents state he planned the killings for months.
Doerman has entered a plea of not guilty on all charges.
The shooting and the criminal case against Doerman have received extensive coverage from local news media and even attention from national outlets.
"These comments and corresponding publicity are creating such an atmosphere of notoriety of this case that, if allowed to continue, will deprive Mr. Doerman of a fair and impartial trial before his peers," the lawyers wrote of the prosecutor's statement.
Such comments may require a change of venue to ensure a jury pool isn't "tainted by inflammatory and prejudicial publicity," the lawyers wrote. There was no discussion in court Wednesday of trying the case in a different jurisdiction.
Doerman appeared in court in chains and an orange jumpsuit for the first pre-trial hearing since his June 22 indictment. The judge spoke only to Doerman's attorneys and did not pose any questions to Doerman directly.
Prosecutors say Doerman killed his 4-year-old son Hunter first, shooting him twice in the head inside their Laurel Lindale Road home.
Tekulve has said 7-year-old Clayton fled and was “gunned down from behind” as he ran through a field near the home. The prosecutor said Doerman then went up to the fallen boy and shot him in the head.
Then Doerman ripped 3-year-old Chase from his mother's arms and “put a bullet in his head,” according to Tekulve
A 34-year-old woman, the boys' mother, whom authorities have not named, was shot in the hand trying to shield her sons from harm.
Doerman was indicted last month on 21 counts including aggravated murder, kidnapping and felonious assault, court records show. He is currently being held without bail at the Clermont County Jail.
Officials have not released a motive for the killings.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Judge's order limits lawyers' comments on Chad Doerman case
