As Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson is set to go to trial in Warren County on May 27, Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III is setting some of the ground rules ahead of the trial.
Simms issued an order Friday for Lawson’s case file to remain in Nelson County during the trial. The circuit court staff “will be responsible for videotaping the proceeding and returning the recordings, as well as any trial exhibits, back to the Nelson Circuit Court Clerk.”
In a previous hearing, Simms said normally once a case file is transferred it is not transferred back, so he wanted to keep the file in Nelson County for as long as possible for convenience of the defense, prosecution, and court staff.
Simms on Tuesday issued an order that bans recording the trial proceeding by anybody except court personnel. The order bans all electronic and recording devices from the courtroom. Simms said in the order: “This case has generated tremendous interest amongst the news media and the general public which has resulted in a ‘circuslike atmosphere.’” Simms also said people sitting in the media area during previous hearings have been observed recording on iPhones or iPads, with complaints that proceedings have been live-streamed and posted to social media.
Lawson is charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence and Conspiracy to Commit Murder. His son Joseph Lawson, along with Brooks Houck, is scheduled to go to trial on June 24.
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