A hearing on a gag order request in the case of the two men accused of killing former City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris Sr. was postponed yesterday after arrangements had not been made for the defendants to be brought to court.

Assistant Public Defender Maureen Rowland and defense attorney Jan Bledsoe had requested a postponement, but District Administrative Judge Keith E. Mathews denied their request. As soon as the two attorneys arrived in the courtroom, they said they wouldn't permit the hearing to proceed without their clients.

Mathews pointed out that he had held hearings on gag orders without clients' presence in the past.

"So this is your end-run at getting a postponement that was denied?" Mathews said, clearly irritated. "That's a rhetorical question."

The gag order would limit public comment about the case. Opposition to it was filed by The Baltimore Sun, WJZ-TV and WBAL-TV.

Mathews rescheduled the hearing on the gag order for tomorrow morning.