ESPN, NBCUniversal Media, and McClatchy Company have filed a joint motion opposing a judge's potential move to restrict public access to court proceedings in the Rashaun Jones retrial. The former Miami football player faces charges for the 2006 killing of teammate Bryan Pata. This legal challenge comes ahead of a Monday hearing with Florida 11th Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda.

Judge Miranda previously raised the possibility of restricting media access and imposing a gag order. The media outlets' motion argues that pretrial proceedings and trials are presumed open to the public, and gag orders are unconstitutional. They contend that much of the case's information, including a jailhouse informant's statement, is already public record.

Notably, Jones' own attorney filed a motion opposing both a media ban and gag order, stating the defendant welcomes press scrutiny. Prosecutors have expressed concerns about defense attorneys communicating with the media. The media's filing cites past rejections of similar bans in high-profile Florida cases, including the Parkland shooting and Ted Bundy trials.