State court officials had argued the gag order was necessary because of the “deluge” of threats directed at the clerk after Trump had blasted her on social media. Trump renewed his attacks on the clerk after a judge from the state Appellate Division issued a temporary stay of the order earlier this month.

The ruling Thursday by a four-judge panel rejected Trump’s appeal and reinstated the orders against Trump and his lawyers, who’d repeatedly complained about the clerk in court.

[This is an absurd ruling. It completely inverts the dynamic of the relationship between state power and individuals seeking justice in court and in public. It’s especially absurd as NY AG Letitia James routinely comments about Trump publicly while the trial is underway. Trump needs to take this to federal court on constitutional grounds. — Ed]