Federal judge issues temporary restraining order blocking the New York Times from publishing further Pentagon Papers — the first court-ordered prior restraint on a major U.S. newspaper

U.S. District Judge Murray Gurfein in the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order on June 15, 1971, blocking the New York Times from further publication of Pentagon Papers excerpts at the Nixon administration's request — the first time a federal court had ever enjoined a major American newspaper from publication. Gurfein's order was issued two days into his first week on the federal bench, a seat to which Nixon had appointed him. The Washington Post, which had separately received the documents from Ellsberg, continued publishing until it too received an injunction. Within days, all parties agreed the Supreme Court would have to resolve the constitutional question on an emergency basis.