Opening remarks

📄 Opening remarks — Tuesday, June 20, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\20\OPENING-REMARKS.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 99 of 167

◀ Sidebar (2) Motion: Sam Poser testimony admissibility ▶

Date: Tuesday, June 20, 1995 • Utterances: 18

Judge Ito opens court and reviews the day's schedule with counsel. Defense attorney Blasier flags that Dr. Weir's DNA report has not yet been received, raising concerns about whether the Thursday/Friday schedule can hold. The court sets a 3:00 PM cutoff due to a juror commitment.

# 1 (Appearances as heretofore noted.)

# 2 (Janet M. Moxham, CSR no. 4855, official reporter.)

# 3 (Christine M. Olson, CSR no. 2378, official reporter.)

# 4 (The following proceedings were held in open court, out of the presence of the jury:)

# 5 THE COURT:

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 Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Darden. Good morning, counsel.

# 6 MR. SHAPIRO:

Good morning, your Honor.

# 7 MR. COCHRAN:

Good morning, your Honor.

# 8 THE COURT:

All right. What does our schedule look like?

# 9 MR. BLASIER:

Your Honor, yesterday we were told that we were going to get Dr. Weir's report yesterday afternoon or earlier I think is the way it was phrased. We still have not gotten the report. The draft that was provided to us a week or two weeks ago did not contain any number and was obviously not their final report. Mr. Neufeld talked to Dr. Weir this morning and Dr. Weir told Mr. Neufeld that the report was going to be faxed to us today, that the first section of it is 42 pages and that there is going to be an addendum, and I'm not sure when we will get the addendum. We agreed to the Thursday/Friday schedule understanding that it was very tight for us giving the reports to our experts and still have the time to review it. We still want to try and maintain that but we have to see this 42-page report and we have to see what their addendum is. So what I would suggest, I will be able to advise you later today whether we think we will still be able to go forward on Thursday.

# 10 THE COURT:

Mr. Harmon, good morning. I would ask that you do everything you can to expedite the transfer of the report.

# 11 MR. HARMON:

I think Mr. Clarke has talked to Mr. Neufeld since that conversation, but it is not a lot different than Mr. Blasier has told you, your Honor.

# 12 THE COURT:

All right. Please let me know, because if we are going to be down with the jury for one day, I need to make arrangements to have other activities for them, et cetera, et cetera, so I need to know as soon as possible.

KEY QUOTE

# 13 MR. BLASIER:

As soon as I get word, I will let you know.

# 14 THE COURT:

All right. And today's agenda, counsel, we are going to have Mr. Poser, I believe it is?

# 15 MR. COCHRAN:

Right.

# 16 THE COURT:

And then Mr. Sims again?

# 17 MR. HARMON:

Yes, your Honor.

# 18 THE COURT:

And we are going to conclude today at 3:00 P.M. because of a commitment that the Court has granted that one of the jurors has. All right. Good morning, Mr. Cochran.

Temperature

routine

Key Quotes (2)

Robert Blasier

We agreed to the Thursday/Friday schedule understanding that it was very tight for us giving the reports to our experts and still have the time to review it. We still want to try and maintain that but we have to see this 42-page report and we have to see what their addendum is.

Signals potential disruption to the DNA testimony schedule; defense is under pressure to review a large report before cross-examining the prosecution's expert.

Lance A. Ito

Please let me know, because if we are going to be down with the jury for one day, I need to make arrangements to have other activities for them, et cetera, et cetera, so I need to know as soon as possible.

Shows Ito's characteristic efficiency and logistical focus on keeping the jury occupied and the trial moving.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Dr. Weir's DNA statistical report — a 42-page document with a pending addendum

discussed; defense has not yet received it despite expectation it would arrive the prior afternoon

Notable Exchanges (1)

Robert Blasier•Lance A. Ito•Rockne Harmon

Blasier informs the court that Dr. Weir's report is still outstanding; Ito asks Harmon to expedite; Harmon confirms the situation is essentially as Blasier described.

procedural

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6456 • 18 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103