Silence Blago?

Indicted former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has lost his political career but gained celebrity status through appearances on TV talk shows and the publishing of his memoirs.

He is also facing 16 charges of corruption — to which he has pleaded not guilty — in a trial scheduled for June.

Yet his career as a celebrity is clashing with his legal obligations. Prosecutors are worried about his appearance on the NBC reality show "The Celebrity Apprentice" with Donald Trump.

Prosecuting attorneys went to court in Chicago Monday to argue that the disgraced governor may prejudice potential jurors with his statements on the show. He filmed the segment last week in New York City with other contestants, such as Sharon Osbourne and Cyndi Lauper, the New York Times reported. The segment will air in March.

Defense lawyers contended that Mr. Blagojevich has the right to speak freely and that one reality-show appearance by a defendant is not likely to prejudice a jury.

On the show, Mr. Blagojevich will compete with other contestants to raise money for charities. His business skills will be tested as he and others try to avoid being fired by Mr. Trump.

Judge James B. Zagel of U.S. District Court in Chicago agreed with prosecutors that the Illinois politician's appearance on the show might hamper the trial. The judge did not bar the appearance, but asked attorneys on both sides to reach an agreement on how Mr. Blagojevich might conduct himself in the glare of reality-TV cameras.

What nonsense.