Judge: Missouri police can't stop media recordings

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A federal judge has issued court orders that prevent Missouri police from stopping media and others from recording officers.

The court order follows a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union that said police tried to stop journalists from recording in Ferguson, where protests have been ongoing since 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in August.

The order comes as the public waits for a grand jury decision on whether to indict the officer, who is white. Brown, who was black, was unarmed.

Some protests prompted by the shooting have turned violent. Gov. Jay Nixon this week declared a state of emergency preparing for the grand jury announcement.

The court order applies to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County and Ferguson police.