Nelson County judge puts strict limits on media coverage of Crystal Rogers' murder trial

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Nelson County judge presiding over the May 27 trial of Steve Lawson for Crystal Rogers' murder ruled no cameras, cellphones or any recording devices will be allowed in the courtroom, which is unusually restrictive for trials in Kentucky.

In an order Tuesday, Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III wrote that "unfortunately," in the high-profile murder trial of Crystal Rogers, he must "impose limitations" on the media and public.

While the media and public will be able to watch the trial from the courtroom, no one will be able to have a phone or disseminate "to the public any information it ascertains" as the trial is ongoing, according to the order.

"Unfortunately, this case has generated tremendous interest among the news media and the general public which has resulted in a 'circuslike atmosphere,'" Simms wrote.

Simms said it was the first time in his more than two decades on the bench that he has not allowed a camera in the courtroom.

The ruling means that recordings of the trial will only be available through the courts. Typically, it can takes days to obtain these recordings.

In hearings leading up to the trial, Simms said he has allowed reporters to have phones, but some have violated his rules and livestreamed the proceedings.

"This Court finds that the trial proceeding must be conducted in a dignified manner without the distraction of anyone recording this proceeding" with any electronic device, Simms said in his order.

"Unfortunately, this Court believes that it must impose limitations herein to assure a fair trial," Simms ruled.

There will also be no media room for reporters. The media will be able to sit in the courtroom and report on the trial during breaks, the judge ruled.

With this order, Simms said he hopes to avoid sequestering the jury during the trial, which has already been moved to Bowling Green because of the publicity since Rogers disappeared in 2015.

The judge also prohibited anyone from wearing any clothing, buttons or pictures of anyone related to the case.

Rogers was last seen with her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, during the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. Her car was left running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. She's presumed dead, but her body was never found.

Steve Lawson is scheduled to stand trial in Warren County next month with Houck and Joseph Lawson scheduled later in June. Both trials were moved out of Nelson County because of the massive amount of publicity surrounding the case.

Steve Lawson, according to a Dec. 6, 2023, Nelson County indictment, agreed to "aid one or more persons in the planning or commission" of the death of another and then "destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed" or altered physical evidence on July 3 or July 4, 2015, when Rogers disappeared.

Houck's indictment accused him of "acting alone or in complicity with another" committing the offense of murder of Rogers. He's also charged with tampering when he "destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed or altered" physical evidence, according to the indictment.

Joseph Lawson pleaded not guilty in September 2023 to criminal conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in the Rogers case. He isn't charged with Rogers' murder but is charged with conspiracy, meaning they believe he was involved in some way with Rogers' killer.

This story may be updated.

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