Lunch break

📄 Lunch break — Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\7\LUNCH-BREAK.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 90 of 167

◀ Direct examination of Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran (part 3) Afternoon reopening ▶

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 1995 • Utterances: 12

After the lunch recess, Cochran raised a concern that the courtroom camera had been fixated on Simpson rather than following normal coverage patterns, calling it unfair given the emotional nature of the proceedings. Judge Ito explained the constraint — he had directed the camera not to photograph victims, limiting its range — and then addressed several courtroom conduct violations including audience contortions, gum chewing, and note passing, warning that six offenders captured on videotape would be permanently excluded.

# 1 (At 12:04 P.M. the noon recess was taken until 1:30 P.M. of the same day.)

# 2 (Appearances as heretofore noted.)

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

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

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

# 6 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you, counsel. Let's come to order. All right. Back on the record in the Simpson matter. The Defendant is again present before the Court. All parties are present. Mr. Cochran.

# 7 MR. COCHRAN:

Yes, your Honor. Thank you very kindly. Good afternoon, your Honor. Your Honor, I would like to present a matter to your attention. It's been brought to my attention that--from calling my office and talking to a number of people--that the camera has apparently been pretty much fixated on Mr. Simpson during these proceedings, and that's apparently different from what normally happens here. And I'm concerned about that. I think it's unfair. This is a very emotional time for him. To have the camera on him every second is just quite unfair. I'm not sure what the Court can do about it, but I would certainly appeal to the good judgment and the sense of fairness of those who operate the camera to use the camera as you normally use it and put it on the lawyer and the witness as opposed to fixating on Mr. Simpson, your Honor.

# 8 THE COURT:

Well, we have one practical difficulty in that I've directed them not to photograph or video any of the victims in the matter. So that limits their ability to move around, especially when Mr. Kelberg is working with any of the--with chart 352 and the other charts that contain crime scene photos. So I understand your position and we'll have to trust the good taste and judgment of the directors upstairs from Court TV.

# 9 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you. Please do that. Thank you.

# 10 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Kelberg, any other comment?

# 11 MR. KELBERG:

No, your Honor.

# 12 THE COURT:

All right. I might add that I found distracting the contortions of some members of the audience, and if it continues to be distracting, those persons will be asked to leave the courtroom. Also, people appear to have forgotten about the no gum chewing or eating in the courtroom, and I have six people on videotape from this morning's session that are going to be excluded from all further sessions. All right. Let's proceed. Let's have the jury. Also, the note passing from the audience is going to as well.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Johnnie Cochran

This is a very emotional time for him. To have the camera on him every second is just quite unfair.

Cochran frames camera coverage as a fairness issue, seeking to shape the public's visual narrative of Simpson during damaging testimony.

Lance A. Ito

I have six people on videotape from this morning's session that are going to be excluded from all further sessions.

Ito demonstrates firm courtroom control, having proactively documented misconduct rather than simply issuing a warning.

Lance A. Ito

We'll have to trust the good taste and judgment of the directors upstairs from Court TV.

Reveals the limits of judicial authority over media — Ito can guide but not dictate camera direction to Court TV.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Chart 352 and other charts containing crime scene photos

referenced as reason camera movement is restricted near Kelberg's work area

Notable Exchanges (1)

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran appeals for the camera to be redirected away from Simpson; Ito sympathizes but explains the competing constraint of not filming victims, leaving the matter to Court TV's discretion.

diplomatic

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6303 • 12 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103