AP Photo/Jerry Lai

Freedom of the press and all, but...ew.

The Illinois Supreme Court on Monday shot down a motion filed by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and AP requesting access to sealed records and transcripts pertaining to R. Kelly's long-gestating child-porn case.

Jury selection is currently underway, and the trial is expected to begin Friday, nearly six years after the case went to a Cook County grand jury.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to having inappropriate contact with a minor and related charges for allegedly taping himself having sex with a 13-year-old girl sometime between Jan. 1, 1998 and November 2000.