prior restraint

noun

1. a court order banning publication of unpublished material.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prior restraint¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Normally, such “prior restraint” on the speech of a political group is allowed only under “extraordinary” circumstances.

From Los Angeles Times

What the government does not mention is that the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that seizures of constitutionally protected materials run “the risk of prior restraint,” regardless of “probable cause.”

From Slate

What if the Nixon administration had charged the Times with, say, Espionage Act violations, seized the Pentagon Papers, and then sought a prior restraint in the guise of a discovery order to prohibit the Times from publishing them?

From Slate

The justices did not comment in leaving in place lower-court rulings against Musk, who complained that the requirement amounts to “prior restraint” on his speech in violation of the First Amendment.

From Seattle Times

Trump’s lawyers argue that banning him from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case is an unconstitutional prior restraint on his free speech rights while he’s campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges.

From Seattle Times