📄 Motion: trial accommodation and scheduling — Thursday, November 21, 1996
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\NOV\21\MOTION-TRIAL-ACCOMMODATION-AND.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 20 of 57

Motion: trial accommodation and scheduling

Date: Thursday, November 21, 1996 • Utterances: 5
Defense attorney Robert Baker requested a day off (Friday) to allow OJ Simpson to recover emotionally from a custody hearing in Orange County before facing cross-examination. Judge Fujisaki denied the request, noting the court had already arranged accommodations for Simpson's availability. Baker then pivoted and pushed to start Simpson's testimony that afternoon at 1:30, but Fujisaki settled on the following morning.
1 MR. BAKER:

As the Court is aware, Mr. Simpson, my client, has been in Orange County for the custody hearing for his children.

As you can imagine, that's been relatively traumatic.

The plaintiffs have taken off three or four days during the month of trial. I ask -- request of this Court that we be dark on Friday and let Mr. Simpson put his head on straight before these lawyers start attacking him on cross-examination. I would request that we go over till Monday, and that he be the first witness on the stand on Monday morning. They can have at him Monday and Tuesday.

2 THE COURT:

Well, I appreciate his dilemma. However, the Court did have to go out of its way to arrange for his availability and the adjournment of the other proceedings, so the motion is denied.

3 MR. BAKER:

Then, Your Honor, I would like to start him at 1:30 this afternoon. If they won't give me any break on this, let's start him at 1:30 this afternoon. I'll call down to Orange County. Let's get Mr. Simpson on the stand.

These guys can't give me the same cooperation I've given them, and given this Court's ruling, then let's head -- let's go and let's get this thing over with.

4 THE COURT:

Okay. We'll start tomorrow morning.

5 MR. BAKER:

Thanks for your consideration, Your Honor.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (2)

Robert Baker
These guys can't give me the same cooperation I've given them, and given this Court's ruling, then let's head -- let's go and let's get this thing over with.
Baker's frustration boiling over into a bluff — threatening to call Simpson immediately rather than accept a partial accommodation.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
However, the Court did have to go out of its way to arrange for his availability and the adjournment of the other proceedings, so the motion is denied.
Fujisaki firmly rejects the request while acknowledging Simpson's situation, showing he'd already bent over backwards once.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Robert BakerHiroshi Fujisaki
Baker requested Friday off for Simpson to decompress after a custody hearing; Fujisaki denied it, then Baker counter-escalated by demanding a 1:30 PM start that same day, which Fujisaki resolved by setting the next morning.
strategic frustration

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 8367 • 5 utterances
Civil Trial
Department 103
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📂 NOV 21, 1996 📄 Motion: trial accommodation an
NOV 21, 1996 KRT DvH TD