Judge seals documents in ex-astronaut’s trial

The judge presiding over the trial of fired astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak asked lawyers Thursday to limit media contact, and temporarily sealed some documents.

Nowak is accused of trying to kidnap a woman she considered a rival for a space shuttle pilot’s affections.

The case has drawn international attention, and Orange County Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet said he was “just trying to keep the media frenzy down to a dull roar.”

Lubet did not bar lawyers from talking to reporters, but he told both sides not to issue news releases. Neither the defense nor the prosecution objected.

Nowak was fired from NASA about a month after her Feb. 5 arrest.

Police say she drove from Houston to Florida to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman in an Orlando airport parking lot, and fired pepper spray at her.

Shipman, who was dating astronaut William A. Oefelein, was able to get away.

Police reported finding a BB gun, a steel mallet, a knife and rubber tubing in Nowak’s car.

Nowak, 43, who is married, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault.

She is free on bail but did not attend the hearing Thursday.

Some documents in the case were due for public release under state law as early as this week, prosecutors told the judge. But defense lawyer Donald Lykkebak said the release of some of the documents, such as the search warrant for Nowak’s car, would violate her privacy.

“They took a whole bunch of stuff -- personal stuff that won’t be evidence in the case,” Lykkebak said.

Lubet ordered that the documents remain sealed and set a hearing for Monday to consider their release.

The judge also ordered that Nowak’s psychological evaluations be sealed, kept out of the court file and stored in his chambers.

“All of the things I’m doing are in an effort to see that the state and Miss Nowak get a fair trial,” Lubet said.