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The Defense team headed up by Thomas Mesereau have decided to agree with the District Attorney´s Office of Santa Barbara to uphold the gag order in the child molestation case against Michael Jackson. Mesereau wrote that he and his client support the gag order and withdrew any objections to it made by Jackson´s prior counsel.
Santa Barbara prosecutors, Thomas Sneddon and Gerald Franklin, filed a motion on Thursday to the California Supreme Court to uphold the gag order in this case. He argued that the media was hoping to profit by pandering to a "gossip-hungry readership." He proceed to write in his letter, "Despite the perhaps inevitable leaks, the public knows little more about the facts of this case than that Michael Jackson has been indicted on serious charges and that a jury will be asked to consider the evidence that may be presented to determine his guilt or innocence based on that evidence. And that´s the way it should be."
Mr. Sneddon´s letter was a response to the media´s attorneys that wanted the gag order lifted which was imposed by the sitting judge in the case, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville. The gag order prohibits participants involved in the case to discuss any particulars about the case to the media.
Sneddon argued in his letter that the news organizations have no standing to challenge the gag order because it applies only to case participants, not the media. He also said that such an order is required in a case that has drawn sensational worldwide attention.
"What is reported as fact becomes the nucleus of intense speculation, conjecture and discussion among commentators, particularly in the tabloid media and the audience they appeal to," Sneddon wrote. "Gossip -- and the ´news´ tidbits that are gossip´s grist -- translate into income."
In court documents filed Friday, Attorney Theodore Boutrous, who represents the news organizations, criticized Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon´s condemnation of the intense media coverage.
"Eliminating the gag order will ensure that more accurate information will be disseminated, and will reduce the amount of rumors, speculation and gossip about which the District Attorney complains," Boutrous wrote.
The news organizations have been annoyed by Sneddon´s clampdown on information about the case. They have asked the California Supreme Court to overturn the gag order on the grounds that it violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court has asked that both sides submit written argument by Friday, May 14th and to decide whether they will hear the matter.
Sources: Associated Press/ MJJForum
Santa Barbara prosecutors, Thomas Sneddon and Gerald Franklin, filed a motion on Thursday to the California Supreme Court to uphold the gag order in this case. He argued that the media was hoping to profit by pandering to a "gossip-hungry readership." He proceed to write in his letter, "Despite the perhaps inevitable leaks, the public knows little more about the facts of this case than that Michael Jackson has been indicted on serious charges and that a jury will be asked to consider the evidence that may be presented to determine his guilt or innocence based on that evidence. And that´s the way it should be."
Mr. Sneddon´s letter was a response to the media´s attorneys that wanted the gag order lifted which was imposed by the sitting judge in the case, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville. The gag order prohibits participants involved in the case to discuss any particulars about the case to the media.
Sneddon argued in his letter that the news organizations have no standing to challenge the gag order because it applies only to case participants, not the media. He also said that such an order is required in a case that has drawn sensational worldwide attention.
"What is reported as fact becomes the nucleus of intense speculation, conjecture and discussion among commentators, particularly in the tabloid media and the audience they appeal to," Sneddon wrote. "Gossip -- and the ´news´ tidbits that are gossip´s grist -- translate into income."
In court documents filed Friday, Attorney Theodore Boutrous, who represents the news organizations, criticized Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon´s condemnation of the intense media coverage.
"Eliminating the gag order will ensure that more accurate information will be disseminated, and will reduce the amount of rumors, speculation and gossip about which the District Attorney complains," Boutrous wrote.
The news organizations have been annoyed by Sneddon´s clampdown on information about the case. They have asked the California Supreme Court to overturn the gag order on the grounds that it violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court has asked that both sides submit written argument by Friday, May 14th and to decide whether they will hear the matter.
Sources: Associated Press/ MJJForum
