In July 2021, one of Ghislaine Maxwell’s appellate attorneys wrote an op-ed comparing Maxwell’s prosecution to that of Bill Cosby, arguing that she should have been shielded from criminal charges under the same type of non-prosecution agreement that had temporarily freed Cosby. Prosecutors quickly brought the piece to Judge Alison J. Nathan’s attention, asserting that it violated court rules prohibiting lawyers from making extrajudicial statements that could taint a jury pool or influence public opinion before trial. The government said the op-ed’s tone and timing appeared designed to sway potential jurors and undermine the integrity of the proceedings.


Judge Nathan responded firmly, issuing a written order warning Maxwell’s defense team that public commentary of that kind was “inconsistent with the spirit” of Local Rule 23.1, which restricts publicity efforts during active criminal trials. She cautioned Maxwell’s attorneys against attempting to litigate the case in the press and reminded both sides that pre-trial communications must not risk prejudicing jurors. However, Nathan stopped short of imposing sanctions or formal discipline, concluding that while the conduct was questionable, it did not rise to the level of contempt or rule violation warranting punishment.


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