Michael Jackson?s lawyers asked Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to seal several motions in the case which includes their request that the indictment handed down by the grand jury against Mr. Jackson be thrown out. The defense is also challenging the search warrants and affidavits filed by authorities seeking the warrants.
Mr. Jackson's attorney, Robert Sanger, said in his motion that the documents would disclose ?the testimony of witnesses or potential witnesses and disclose possible evidence? that may not be admitted at trial.
The latest request to seal documents is a continuing pattern in the case. The attorney for numerous news organizations covering the case, Ted Boutrous, said the defense?s challenge of the searches and the indictment could be key motions in the case. He argued the public has a right to see the sealed documents to decide if the court was being fair.
"So much of the material is under seal that that creates a vicious circle where the parties think that every document that gets filed must also be under seal," Boutrous said. "Sealing breeds more sealing."
Judge Rodney S. Melville denied more information to be made available to the public. In the June 25th hearing, he rejected Boutrous' request that he unseal 47 search warrants and the entire grand jury indictment against Mr. Jackson.
Melville told Boutrous he was keeping the evidence sealed to make sure that Mr. Jackson receives a fair trial.
"Mr. Boutrous, you know that everything I'm doing is according to the law," the judge said. "I'm being very careful in following the law. Please do not mislead the press about this. I support the First Amendment."
Source: Associated Press/MJJForum
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