📄 Morning session opening — Thursday, July 6, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\6\MORNING-SESSION-OPENING.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 109 of 167

Morning session opening

Date: Thursday, July 6, 1995 • Utterances: 12
Judge Ito opens the morning session by summarizing an extraordinary step the court took before proceedings began: individually interviewing each sitting juror after learning that a previously dismissed juror — removed for misconduct involving written notes to other jurors — had made contact with a current juror. Defense counsel Cochran signals he wants to put a jury-related request on the record.
1 (Appearances as heretofore noted.)
2 (Janet M. Moxham, CSR no. 4855, official reporter.)
3 (Christine M. Olson, CSR no. 2378, official reporter.)
4 (Pages 35233 through 35294, volume 181A, transcribed and sealed under separate cover.)
5 (The following proceedings were held in open court, out of the presence of the jury:)
6 THE COURT:

All right. Back on the record in the Simpson matter. Mr. Simpson is again present before the Court with his counsel, Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Blasier. The People are represented by Miss Clark, Mr. Darden and Mr. Escobar. The jury is not present. The record should reflect that this morning the Court conducted an interview of each one of our jurors after the Court received information that one of our former jurors, who had been dismissed for misconduct for communicating and writing notes to other jurors, had indeed communicated with one of the sitting jurors. The Court had to conduct an inquiry as to whether or not such communications were received and what the content was. And the Court conducted an individual interview of each one of our jurors. And we will proceed. Anything else, counsel?

7 MR. COCHRAN:

Yes, your Honor. We would like to put something on the record if we might. Perhaps the Court may want us to approach the bench.

8 THE COURT:

What is the topic, counsel?

9 MR. COCHRAN:

With regard to the jury, we have a request.

10 THE COURT:

A request?

11 MR. COCHRAN:

A request, yes.

12 THE COURT:

All right. Madam reporter.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (1)

Lance A. Ito
The record should reflect that this morning the Court conducted an interview of each one of our jurors after the Court received information that one of our former jurors, who had been dismissed for misconduct for communicating and writing notes to other jurors, had indeed communicated with one of the sitting jurors.
Establishes a jury tampering concern — a dismissed juror contacted a sitting juror, requiring individual judicial interviews of the entire panel before proceedings could resume.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Lance A. ItoJohnnie Cochran
Cochran asks to put something on the record regarding the jury, prompting Ito to ask for the topic before allowing it. Cochran characterizes it as a 'request,' and Ito calls the reporter — suggesting it may be addressed at bench.
strategic

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 6645 • 12 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
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📂 JUL 6, 1995 📄 Morning session opening
JUL 6, 1995 KRT DvH TD