📄 Adjournment — Wednesday, October 23, 1996
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\OCT\23\ADJOURNMENT.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 1 of 57

Adjournment

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 1996 • Utterances: 9
After opening statements concluded for the day, Judge Fujisaki confirmed that Baker would give an opening statement (rather than reserve it). Baker then argued that Petrocelli's opening statement — which referenced Fuhrman being asleep, finding the glove alone, and interrogating Kato Kaelin — opened the door to Baker addressing Fuhrman directly in his own opening. Fujisaki denied the request, leaving the prior order in place.
1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, outside the presence of the jury.)
2 THE COURT:

In terms of scheduling, Mr. Baker, are you going to make an opening statement, or are you going to reserve it until it's time you put your defense on? You may do that if you like.

3 MR. BAKER:

Well, I'll be making an opening statement, Your Honor.

4 THE COURT:

And with regards to the deferring of the issue that I did, let me just simply state that should it result in the court ruling permitting that evidence, having foreclosure from referring to that at the present time, you may at such time before you present your defense and make opening statement in that regard.

5 MR. BAKER:

Can I just address one issue with you to the court?

6 THE COURT:

Yes.

7 MR. BAKER:

Petrocelli now, in his opening statement, has told the jury at least three things that come from Mark Fuhrman's lips: He told him Mark Fuhrman was asleep. Only Mark Fuhrman can testify to that. He told them Mark Fuhrman alone found the glove. Only Mark Fuhrman can testify to that. He told them Mark Fuhrman found the Rockingham glove alone. And he testified, or he told the jurors, that Fuhrman was the interrogator of Kato Kaelin, and that was after the testimony. And this is after the other Detective had left. I think he has opened the door to the issue, and I think I ought to be able to do it in my opening. I will submit, Your Honor, Mr. Petrocelli was very careful, Your Honor, to only confine my remarks about Mr. Fuhrman to evidence that will be elicited from witnesses other than Mr. Fuhrman in every single case. For example, Mark Fuhrman was asleep. He was called by officer Ron Phillips, and Ron Phillips will so testify.

KEY QUOTE
8 THE COURT:

Okay. Order remains.

KEY QUOTE
9 (At 4:35 P.M., an adjournment was taken until Thursday, October 24, 1996, at 8:30 A.M.)

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (3)

Robert Baker
Petrocelli now, in his opening statement, has told the jury at least three things that come from Mark Fuhrman's lips: He told him Mark Fuhrman was asleep. Only Mark Fuhrman can testify to that. He told them Mark Fuhrman alone found the glove.
Baker argues Petrocelli's opening created an asymmetry — the jury heard Fuhrman's story from the plaintiff's side without Baker being permitted to counter it.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
Okay. Order remains.
Terse, definitive ruling — Fujisaki refuses to revisit the prior order limiting Baker's ability to address Fuhrman in his opening statement.
Robert Baker
I will submit, Your Honor, Mr. Petrocelli was very careful, Your Honor, to only confine my remarks about Mr. Fuhrman to evidence that will be elicited from witnesses other than Mr. Fuhrman in every single case.
Baker concedes Petrocelli was technically careful but argues the cumulative effect still opened the door — revealing the strategic tension over how Fuhrman's role would be framed.

Evidence (1)

Informal
The Rockingham glove, referenced as having been found by Fuhrman alone
discussed (in context of Petrocelli's opening statement)

Notable Exchanges (1)

Robert BakerHiroshi Fujisaki
Baker argues that Petrocelli opened the door to Fuhrman by making three specific factual claims in opening that only Fuhrman could personally verify. Fujisaki shuts it down in four words.
strategic / stonewalled

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 7986 • 9 utterances
Civil Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 OCT 23, 1996 📄 Adjournment
OCT 23, 1996 KRT DvH TD