Judge issues order banning payment for interviews in Garrard murder trial

Joyce Garrard

An Etowah County judge has issued an unusual order barring the media from paying for interviews about the upcoming trial of a woman charged with capital murder in the running death of her 9-year-old granddaughter.

An order by Etowah County Circuit Judge William Ogletree prohibits media organizations from offering or making payments to witnesses or parties for coverage in the trial of 49-year-old Joyce Garrard.

A longtime media attorney called the order unusual. The judge's order also appears to be pre-emptive, since neither Ogletree nor lawyers have mentioned such offers during pre-trial hearings.

The judge previously issued a gag order.

Garrard is set for trial next month in the death of Savannah Hardin. Garrard says she's innocent of making the girl run as punishment until the child collapsed and died.