A U.S. judge issued a gag order on Friday in the case against Roger Stone, the former adviser to Donald Trump who has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the investigation into whether the president's election campaign colluded with Russia.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she was issuing the modified gag order to "maintain the dignity and seriousness of the courthouse" in a case that has generated a carnival-like atmosphere since Stone's arrest in Florida on January 25.

The order prohibits lawyers involved in the case from speaking with news media outlets and prohibits other participants, like Stone himself, from making statements that may affect the case when they are near the courthouse.

It does not stop Stone from talking about his case when he is not near the courthouse. However, Jackson warned Stone that he may not help his prospects by speaking out.

"One factor that will be considered in the evaluation of any future request for relief based on pretrial publicity will be the extent to which the publicity was engendered by the defendant himself," Jackson wrote.

One of Stone's attorneys said he was satisfied with the order.

"We are pleased that Mr. Stone's First Amendment rights have been safeguarded. Courthouse steps are reasonable places for restraint for all," Stone's lawyer Bruce Rogow said. The amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements to the Congress, obstruction and witness tampering in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election and whether President Trump's Republican campaign conspired with Moscow.

The 66-year-old self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" has embraced the spotlight since his arrest. After he was released from arrest, Stone flashed twin "V for Victory" signs that were made famous by his former mentor, disgraced Republican President Richard Nixon.

He has criticized Mueller's investigation as an "inquisition," and told reporters that his charges amount to "process crimes" that did not involve intentional lies.

Stone is accused of telling unidentified members of Trump's 2016 campaign team that he had advance knowledge of plans by the WikiLeaks website to release damaging emails about Trump's Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors say those emails were stolen by Russia. Moscow has denied meddling in the campaign. Trump, who has frequently derided Mueller's probe as a "witch hunt," has denied any wrongdoing.

Stone's association with Trump dates back to 1979, and he was one of the first to enlist when the billionaire real estate magnate launched his run for the presidency in 2015. He left the campaign months later but the indictment shows he remained in active communication with Trump's team, providing support and information. Mueller's team has indicted a total of 34 people -- but so far, no charges of outright collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow have been filed. 

(Cover: Roger Stone flashes a victory gesture as he departs following a status conference in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington, February 1, 2019. /VCG Photo)