MOSCOW, Idaho – The Seattle Times, a Spokane TV station and the Associated Press are among 20 regional and national news organizations that are asking a judge to narrow a gag order in the University of Idaho murders.

The coalition contends press access to information in high-stakes cases ensures the public is accurately informed about the criminal justice process.

Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths of four students in Moscow, Idaho on November 13th.

The case garnered widespread publicity, and the Latah County judge issued a gag order barring attorneys, law enforcement agencies and others associated with the case from talking about it.

Last week, she broadened the order to include attorneys representing witnesses or victims’ family members.

The media coalition says the gag order is unnecessarily sweeping and severely impedes the public’s understanding of the investigation.