A judge has ordered wheel-chaired picketer Fred Bursack to stay away from the Cowley County Courthouse in Winfield.
A temporary protection from stalking order was approved Tuesday, according to county attorney Chris Smith. The ban could be extended to a permanent order when Bursack appears in court April 7.
Permanent protection orders are reviewed for renewal once per year.
While the local man ? who’s had run-ins with local authorities before ? has picketed near the courthouse for nearly two years, he recently started to follow and harass certain county and court officials, Smith said. That prompted specific individuals to seek protection from Bursack.
"No one had a problem with him peacefully protesting outside the courthouse," Smith said. "That’s a First Amendment right. But things have escalated now."
Bursack is not allowed to be in the area of the courthouse, the courthouse annex or any area near district court property. He’s also banned from any areas adjacent to the courthouse and was seen Wednesday at the corner of Ninth and Main.
Senior Judge Ron Innes has been brought in from outside this court district to make rulings in the case since Bursack has previous run-ins with local court officials.
