📄 Sidebar: prior testimony and ruling — Wednesday, November 6, 1996
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▲ Day 10 of 57

Sidebar: prior testimony and ruling

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 • Utterances: 57
The court held a sidebar to resolve an objection to prior criminal trial testimony about the glove being 'bunched up,' with Judge Fujisaki ultimately overruling the objection after reading the relevant passage himself. The deposition of Kevin Schott — a photographer who took pictures of OJ Simpson wearing a glove at a Buffalo Bills game in November 1993 — was then read into the record, with the defense attempting to raise questions about whether Schott or his attorney tried to sell the photos to Inside Edition. The session concluded with Fujisaki ruling that witness Stewart West was not unavailable under Evidence Code 240 and sustaining the objection to using his prior testimony.
1 (The following proceedings were held at the bench:)
2 MR. BAKER:

Objection was first of all overruled in the criminal court. Second of all, he asked this witness for exactly the same conclusions. He's asked him about now. He asked about rain drops. He asked this witness through the deposition, or the trial transcript, rather, to make the very same conclusions that we're asking this witness to make.

And hence, there's no basis that this witness doesn't have any foundation for -- plus when they offer the prior trial transcript, it's my understanding that they can't object when it hasn't been objected to. In this case, it's been overruled.

3 MR. GELBLUM:

We can offer new objections. from anything. I don't know of anything at all that prevents us from doing that. It's evidentiary issues.

Secondly, we did not ask for this kind of conclusion about "the glove was bunched up."

Thirdly, they could have objected. Just because they didn't object, doesn't mean we can't object and the objection would be improper.

4 THE COURT:

Well, you cite me the code section.

5 MR. GELBLUM:

Which code section?

6 THE COURT:

Cite me a code section.

7 MR. GELBLUM:

I'm not aware of a code section. I'm not aware of code section.

8 THE COURT:

You're not aware of a code section dealing with the use of depositions?

9 MR. GELBLUM:

This is not deposition. This is prior testimony from the criminal case, Your Honor.

10 THE COURT:

Why are you calling it a deposition?

11 MR. GELBLUM:

I wasn't, Your Honor. This is prior -- I thought I made it clear. This is the testimony. I said to the jury, this is testimony offered at the criminal trial.

12 MR. PETROCELLI:

1291 of the evidence code.

13 MR. GELBLUM:

That's prior testimony. I apologize if I said something to mislead you.

14 THE COURT:

I think this testimony is being offered under 1291 of the evidence code.

15 MR. GELBLUM:

Yes, Your Honor.

16 THE COURT:

Okay.

And 1291 says, subdivision B says the admissibility of former testimony under the section is subject to the same limitations and objections as though the declarant were testifying at the hearing, except that former testimony offered under this section is not subject to 1) objections, 2) the form of the question, which was not made at the time the former testimony was given. And objections with regards to competency.

17 MR. GELBLUM:

This objection was made.

18 MR. BAKER:

It was not. The objection was made, I think, from -- you want to look at it?

19 MR. GELBLUM:

It wasn't the form. It was relevance.

20 MR. BAKER:

"Photograph speaks for itself," and I think under the -- this is not an objection that can be well taken.

21 MR. PETROCELLI:

The objection was as to form.

22 THE COURT:

Wait a minute. Let me read it. I can't chew gum and walk at the same time.

KEY QUOTE
23 (There was a pause in the proceedings to allow the Court to read the testimony.)
24 MR. GELBLUM:

I think --

25 THE COURT:

Will you stop it. Let me read.

26 (Pause in the proceedings.)
27 THE COURT:

After looking at the rest of the testimony, what you're arguing about, I don't know.

I'm going to overrule. There's nothing of consequence that follows. Overruled.

KEY QUOTE
28 MR. GELBLUM:

I have an extra set of the testimony. Would you like --

29 THE COURT:

Not really. Okay.

MR. P. BAKER: I'm going to read the question back. (Reading:)

Now, you notice in the picture that you've indicated is from the half time -- you can come down here and look at it a little more carefully, if you'd like to -- around the wrist area of the gloves, they appear to be bunched up like there's extra leather."

THE COURT REPORTER: Excuse me can you tell me what number that is, the board, for the record?

30 (Mr. P. Baker displays Exhibit No. 646.)
31 (Exhibit 641 is displayed.)
32 (Continues reading on page 45028, line 18:)
33 (Video at frame 544 displayed.)
34 (Continues reading as follows:)
35 MR. GELBLUM:

Nothing further.

The next witness, Your Honor, is Kevin Schott, S-C-H-O-T-T.

36 (Ms. Molinaro assumed the witness stand and reads the answers from the deposition of Kevin Schott.)
37 (Mr. Gelblum reads the questions and narrative portions of the deposition of Kevin Schott.)
38 (Exhibit 655 is displayed on Screen.)
39 (Reading continued as follows:)
40 (Continues reading as follows:)
41 MR. GELBLUM:

Okay. Your Honor, I'd move into evidence exhibits 655, 656, and 657.

42 THE COURT:

Received.

43 (The instrument herein referred to as front view photo of O.J. Simpson with glove on right hand holding microphone was marked for identification and received in evidence as Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 655.)
44 (The instrument herein referred to as close-up photo of O.J. Simpsons' gloved right hand was marked for identification andreceivedd in evidence as Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 656.)
45 (The instrument herein referred to as enlarged, side-view photo of O.J. Simpson with glove on right hand was marked for identification and received in evidence as Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 657.)
46 MR. GELBLUM:

Nothing further.

MR. P. BAKER: 45044. (Reading:)

"Q. Good afternoon, Mr. Schott?

"A. Good afternoon.

"Q. How are you doing?

"A. Fine, thank you.

"Q. November of '93 is when these pictures were taken, correct?

"A. Correct.

"Q. In Buffalo?

"A. In Buffalo.

"Q. Do you live in Buffalo?

"A. I live in Orchard Park.

"Q. Is that near Buffalo?

"A. It's near Buffalo.

"Q. November in the Buffalo area generally isn't cool. It's generally very, very cold. Was this an unusually warm day or a cold day?

"A. I'm not a weatherman, but in Buffalo in November, we could have some days where they start out cool. For example, today I believe it's getting warmer, and the afternoons can warm up.

"Q. Okay. But November -- I mean, we're just in early September?

"A. Correct. But in November, you could have some nice days where it's cool in the morning and then it will warm up.

"Q. Okay. How many people were in the stadium roughly, if you know? Was it sold out?

"A. My best guess is yes, it was but I don't know that for a fact.

"Q. A lot of people wearing gloves?

"A. I don't believe so. I wasn't looking for that.

"Q. Okay. So you don't know?

"A. I really don't know.

"Q. Is there anything particularly unusual about wearing gloves on that day?

"A. No.

"Q. Do you have men's gloves?

"A. Yes, I do.

"Q. Now are these the only pictures that you took?

"A. No, they're not.

"Q. All right. And where are the other pictures? ... (sic) I meant that afternoon of Mr. Simpson?

"A. Of Mr. Simpson?

"Q. Yes.

"A. I believe the District Attorney has what I printed up."

MR. P. BAKER: And where are the other pictures? (Reading:)

"Q. Those are the ones you've identified here in court today and it's actually only two different pictures, is it? Am I correct in that?

"A. Correct.

"Q. Now, I think you indicated you had a lawyer?

"A. Yes, I do.

"Q. Dealing with these pictures?

"A. Yes, I do.

"Q. When did you send the pictures that you took of Mr. Simpson to the prosecution?"

47 MR. GELBLUM:

Objection. Irrelevant.

48 THE COURT:

Overruled.

MR. P. BAKER: Down at the bottom of the page (reading):

"A. I talked to my friend, who happens to be my lawyer, and I believe it was somewhere between June 23 and June 26.

"Q. Of this year?

"A. Of this year, 1995.

"Q. Did you try to sell them to Inside_Edition before you sent them to the prosecution?

"A. I did not try to sell them to Inside_Edition.

"Q. Did your attorney, on your behalf, try to sell them?

"A. I don't believe he did either. I'm not sure.

"Q. Was contact made with Inside_ Edition to try and negotiate the sale of these pictures?

"A. It may have been. I don't know.

"Q. Did you authorize him to do that?

"A. No, I did not.

"Q. Do you have any knowledge of your attorney trying to sell these pictures on your behalf?"

49 THE COURT:

I'll sustain my own objection to that. It's getting irrelevant.

MR. P. BAKER: Okay. Page 45048, down in the middle of the page, "who is your lawyer?"

KEY QUOTE
50 MR. GELBLUM:

Objection. Irrelevant.

51 THE COURT:

Sustained.

MR. P. BAKER: That's all I have.

52 MR. GELBLUM:

Nothing further. And that's it. That's it for these witnesses, Your Honor.

53 THE COURT:

I'm ready to rule on West.

54 MR. GELBLUM:

Okay.

55 THE COURT:

Okay. Objection sustained. Witness served within the jurisdiction. This is -- he is not unavailable under 240 of the evidence code.

KEY QUOTE
56 MR. GELBLUM:

We'll try to bring him in, Your Honor.

57 THE COURT:

Okay.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (5)

Hiroshi Fujisaki
Let me read it. I can't chew gum and walk at the same time.
Characteristic Fujisaki impatience; he silenced both sides to read the transcript himself before ruling.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
After looking at the rest of the testimony, what you're arguing about, I don't know. I'm going to overrule. There's nothing of consequence that follows. Overruled.
Judge dismisses the fight over the 'bunched up' glove conclusion as much ado about nothing.
Robert Baker
"around the wrist area of the gloves, they appear to be bunched up like there's extra leather."
The contested conclusion — defense is trying to establish the gloves were too large for Simpson even before the murders.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
I'll sustain my own objection to that. It's getting irrelevant.
Judge cuts off the defense's line of questioning about Schott's attorney and Inside Edition without waiting for plaintiff's objection.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
Objection sustained. Witness served within the jurisdiction. This is -- he is not unavailable under 240 of the evidence code.
Rules West must appear live; plaintiffs cannot substitute prior testimony.

Evidence (5)

Plaintiffs' 646
Photo displayed during reading of prior testimony, related to glove appearance at halftime
displayed during reading
Plaintiffs' 641
Photo displayed during reading of prior testimony
displayed during reading
Plaintiffs' 655
Front view photo of OJ Simpson with glove on right hand holding microphone, Buffalo Bills game November 1993
admitted into evidence
Plaintiffs' 656
Close-up photo of OJ Simpson's gloved right hand, Buffalo Bills game November 1993
admitted into evidence
Plaintiffs' 657
Enlarged side-view photo of OJ Simpson with glove on right hand, Buffalo Bills game November 1993
admitted into evidence

Notable Exchanges (3)

Robert BakerPeter GelblumHiroshi Fujisaki
Extended argument over whether Evidence Code 1291 bars new objections to prior testimony that wasn't objected to in the criminal trial; Fujisaki reads the code himself and the transcript, then overrules.
procedural
P. BakerHiroshi Fujisaki
Defense reads cross-examination of Schott about whether his attorney tried to sell the photos to Inside Edition; Fujisaki cuts it off by sustaining his own objection before Gelblum can even object.
strategic
Peter GelblumHiroshi Fujisaki
Fujisaki rules on West's availability under Evidence Code 240, sustaining the objection to his prior testimony being read.
procedural

Light Moments (1)

Hiroshi Fujisaki
"Let me read it. I can't chew gum and walk at the same time." followed shortly by "Will you stop it. Let me read."

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Kevin Schott
bias / improper motive
Defense cross-examination from criminal trial suggested Schott or his attorney attempted to sell the Buffalo glove photos to Inside Edition before turning them over to the prosecution, raising questions about his motives and the chain of custody of the images.

Objections

4 objections (2 sustained, 2 overruled)
Proceeding 8179 • 57 utterances
Civil Trial
Department 103
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📂 NOV 6, 1996 📄 Sidebar: prior testimony and r
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