Another problem wives face is dealing with prison regulations.
The prison regulations were not being enforced, as a result of corruption that appeared to reach all the way up to the warden, officials said.
Courts have held, and prison regulations generally require, that prisoners be permitted to meet with reporters.
But the judge said he had no authority over prison regulations.
Previous prison regulations had allowed as many as 14 reporters to watch an execution.
Compared with other established prison regulations at the time, Spandau's rules were quite strict.
The inmates were demanding better conditions and the relaxing of prison regulations, the press agency said.
But the judge rejected the constitutional attack on the prison regulations.
He was, however, prevented from committing such a breach of prison regulations by the door opening.
They rifled irritably through the book of prison regulations to prove their points.