Jackson's hearing will be open to the public

Defense attorneys for a man charged in the slaying of a Blaine County sheriff's deputy have withdrawn a motion to close a court hearing to the public later this month.

The hearing for Lawrence Dean Jackson Jr., charged with the fatal shooting of deputy Joshua Rutherford, is set for Dec. 22 in Chinook.

The decision to withdraw the request came less than a week after an attorney representing the Havre Daily News filed a motion opposing the closure.

Havre lawer Bob Peterson,, who represents Jackson, said Monday the decision to withdraw the request did not result from the intervention by the Ha...