A judge ordered Thursday that an artist’s sketches of two more witnesses in an ongoing first-degree murder trial could not be published in the Journal-World.

The ruling by District Court Judge Paula Martin – this time involving two adult witnesses – came a day after she stood by an order that sketches of murder defendant Martin K. Miller’s children, who testified against him, could not be published.

Martin notified the Journal-World through its attorney that it could not publish sketches of two witnesses – Martin Miller’s mistress, Carrie Parbs, and his friend Laura Cuthbertson – because they had requested of the court that they not be sketched.

“We’re extremely disappointed in the judge’s initial decision, and we’re particularly dismayed by today’s actions,” said Ralph Gage, chief operating officer of The World Company, which owns the Journal-World. “We respect the court system, but we believe Judge Martin’s interpretation and subsequent orders are without any basis in law. We are consulting with our attorney about the appropriate next steps concerning this entire unfolding of events.”

Martin’s position is that courtroom rules limiting photography of certain witnesses also apply to drawings by sketch artists. In a hearing Wednesday, she questioned what interest a newspaper would have in publishing sketches of Miller’s children, who are key witnesses against him.

Gerald. L. Cooley, an attorney for the Journal-World, described the newspaper’s challenge as an “automatic reaction” in defense of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press.

“They have the right to do it without explaining why,” Cooley said.