A judge has entered a gag order that prevents police and prosecutors from talking publicly about the case against the man charged with setting the deadly fire at Boardwalk Apartments.

District Judge Jack Murphy last week ordered “all those with privileged knowledge” of the case against Jason Allen Rose to not make statements outside court that might harm Rose’s right to a fair trial. That includes talking about Rose’s criminal record, witnesses’ expected testimony, the nature of the evidence and the possibility of a plea.

Even before the order, however, prosecutors and police had declined to talk about any of the evidence against Rose or other details of the case.

The order doesn’t prevent discussions of the general nature of the case, the result of hearings or information that’s already in the public record.

Gag orders are rare at Douglas County District Court. In 2002, Judge Michael Malone enforced a rule of silence in the case of Damien Lewis, who was charged and later convicted of shooting an elderly Lawrence couple at their home on Learnard Avenue.

Rose, a fast-food worker and former foster child who had recently moved out on his own, is charged with three counts of murder and one count of aggravated arson for the Oct. 7 fire. The blaze killed electrician Jose Gonzalez, social worker Yolanda Riddle and Kansas University student Nicole Bingham.

Rose is scheduled to have a three-day preliminary hearing on the charges starting Feb. 22.