A federal judge in Kansas is preparing to hear arguments on a gag order sought by a Salina military school named in a lawsuit alleging abuse of cadets.

The lawsuit by parents of 4 former cadets have filed suit in U.S. District Court claiming St. John’s Military School allowed older students to abuse younger students physically and mentally.

St. John’s has denied fostering a culture of abuse and wants a judge to bar anyone involved in the case from publicly talking about the lawsuit or past litigation. The school says the plaintiffs’ lawyer has been doing media interviews.

U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum scheduled a hearing on motions for the gag order and other issues Tuesday in Kansas City, Kan.

The plaintiffs say the gag order is intended to silence their children.