A federal judge in Youngstown ordered lawyers and their clients to stop making public statements about several ongoing lawsuits involving Ursuline High School.

U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson issued the order on Thursday to protect the right to a fair trial, noting that the legal teams for the families suing the school had posted blog entries about the cases since September. The judge found that the public comments created a substantial probability of unfairly influencing future jurors in the region.

The order affects three separate civil rights cases that allege a pattern of misconduct and failure to protect students.

One case involves claims that football players engaged in severe hazing and physical abuse during a team trip in June 2025 that traveled through Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama. In that lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that a freshman player was restrained and assaulted by teammates while coaches and school officials failed to intervene. The complaint further claims that some of these incidents were recorded and shared on social media.

Another lawsuit details allegations that a football player harassed and physically attacked a female student. The girl's family alleges that she suffered serious injuries after being dragged across a turf field and that school administrators dismissed their concerns, telling the student to move on from the incident.

A third case centers on allegations that an openly gay freshman student was subjected to daily bullying and harassment by football players during the 2023-2024 school year. That lawsuit claims the student was ridiculed for his appearance and sexual orientation, leading him to eventually transfer schools.

Judge Pearson ordered the removal of existing blog posts and similar online content about the cases by Saturday.

The judge emphasized that the right to a fair trial is a fundamental value and that the court has the authority to take measures to avoid prejudicial publicity. The order prohibits both the plaintiffs and defendants, as well as their legal counsel, from making public statements or disparaging the character of those involved in the litigation.

The school and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown have denied most of the claims and asserted that they investigated reports of misconduct and took disciplinary action when appropriate.

The school previously announced the cancellation of the remainder of its 2025 football season following the initial hazing allegations.

Any party that violates the order may be held in contempt and face sanctions.