📄 Witness attendance during closing argument — Tuesday, January 21, 1997
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1997\JAN\21\WITNESS-ATTENDANCE-DURING-CLOS.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 45 of 57

Witness attendance during closing argument

Date: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 • Utterances: 5
Defense attorney Blasier requested that an unnamed woman (likely a family member or supporter) be allowed to remain in the courtroom during his closing argument, despite a prior court order excluding her. Judge Fujisaki denied the request, stating his ruling was about courtroom order and not related to the plaintiffs. The jury was then brought in and closing arguments were announced.
1 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, may I request -- and I know you've made your ruling, but may I request a -- I understand that you have previously excluded Charlotte Blasier from the courtroom.

Bob Blasier, as you are well aware, has had some very serious back surgery. She is really his attendant. And the infraction that she had relative to when she was here earlier before the Christmas break, I think was inadvertent, minor.

We would be most appreciative if she could be in the courtroom for the remaining days while Mr. Blasier is here and gives his final summation and opinion, she will be there, and there is no objection from the plaintiffs' counsel, we would appreciate your consideration in that regard, sir.

2 THE COURT:

Well, I think the considerations that the Court had in making its order doesn't really have anything to do with the plaintiff, it has to do with maintenance of order in the Courtroom, and the Court will not change its ruling. Bring the jury in.

KEY QUOTE
3 MR. BLASIER:

Your Honor, may I request -- respectfully request that we take a break at the time Judge Perez is taking a break. I'd like to ask to bring this matter before him.

4 THE COURT:

It's my courtroom, Mr. Blasier.

KEY QUOTE
5

MR. BLASIER: I'm just making that as a request. (Jurors resume their respective seats.) (The following proceedings were held in open court in the presence of the jury.)

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

THE COURT
It's my courtroom, Mr. Blasier.
Fujisaki firmly shutting down Blasier's attempt to escalate the matter to another judge, asserting sole authority over his courtroom.
THE COURT
the considerations that the Court had in making its order doesn't really have anything to do with the plaintiff, it has to do with maintenance of order in the Courtroom, and the Court will not change its ruling.
Fujisaki clarifies his exclusion order was a neutral courtroom-management decision, not a ruling favoring plaintiffs.

Notable Exchanges (1)

MR. BLASIERTHE COURT
Blasier asked to synchronize a recess with Judge Perez's break so he could bring the exclusion matter before him — an indirect attempt to go around Fujisaki's ruling. Fujisaki shut it down immediately.
tense

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 8845 • 5 utterances
Civil Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JAN 21, 1997 📄 Witness attendance during clos
JAN 21, 1997 KRT DvH TD