A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing the mayor and city leaders after the officials sued, sparking complaints from press advocates that it violates the First Amendment.

A Mississippi state judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing city officials from its website, a move that First Amendment experts say is unconstitutional prior restraint. Mississippi Chancery Court Judge Crystal Wise Martin granted a request on Tuesday from the government of Clarksdale to issue a temporary restraining order