Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the US District Court for the District of Columbia released an order [text, PDF] Wednesday preventing all interested parties in the case against Paul Manafort Jr. and Richard Gates III from making certain statements to the media and in public settings.

The order prevents both sides of the trial from making any statements that are “substantially likely to have a materially prejudicial effect on this case.” No parties filed any objections to the order.

The order was deemed to be necessary due to the criminal case being widely publicized and sensationalized. The order is meant to ensure such comments do not influence the outcome in the trial nor prejudice the jury. These steps are necessary to ensure that Manafort and Gates receive a fair trial.

Manafort and Gates were charged [JURIST report] by Special Counsel Robert Mueller [Official website] in October with conspiracy to launder money, making false statements, conspiracy against the US, and other charges. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.