There has been no shortage of Aaron Hernandez supporters in and around courtrooms since the former NFL tight end was arrested and charged with murder last summer. We know this because many of them have proudly worn his New England Patriots jersey or custom shirts that say “Free Hernandez.”
If those same people show up wearing those same articles of clothing when Hernandez’s trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd begins, they won’t be allowed inside the courthouse.
According to Martin Finucane of the Boston Globe, Judge E. Susan Garsh has barred anyone from wearing Patriots-themed clothing or clothing that displays any NFL team’s logo in court during the Hernandez proceedings.
“No person wearing clothing, or a button or other object attached to clothing, or carrying an object that displays any Patriots or other NFL team logo, football-related insignia, or words and/or a photograph that relate in any way to this case will be permitted entry to the Fall River Justice Center during any phase of the trial.” Garsh wrote in a court order on Friday.
That was one of twenty-eight rules laid out by Garsh ahead of the trial, all of which she says are designed to “ensure the safety and well-being of all trial participants and the dignity of the proceedings.”
As for the trial itself, the case against Hernandez is looking weaker by the day. A whole bunch of key evidence was recently deemed inadmissible. We’ll see how that impacts the hearing.
Photo: Twitter/Wesley Lowery
