📄 Morning session opening — Wednesday, June 7, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\7\MORNING-SESSION-OPENING.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 90 of 167

Morning session opening

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 1995 • Utterances: 14
Judge Ito opens the morning session with all counsel present and the jury absent, summarizing an earlier in camera review of personnel records subpoenaed by the defense via subpoena duces tecum. He explains he will review, redact, and disclose relevant records to both sides under a protective order. Cochran then asks for clarification on a prior order regarding autopsy photos, confirming that media pool representatives will be permitted to view but not photograph the coroner's photos in court.
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 30825 through 30828, volume 161A, 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:

Back on the record in the Simpson matter. Mr. Simpson is again present before the Court with his counsel, Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kardashian, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Blasier. The People are represented by Miss Clark, Mr. Darden, Mr. Kelberg, Mr. Lynch. The jury is not present. Counsel, this morning at nine o'clock the Court conducted an in camera presentation by County counsel with regard to certain personnel records that were requested by means of subpoena duces tecum by the Defense, and those matters, along with the representations of County counsel, have been presented to the Court. And in the Court's abundant spare time the Court will look over those records and redact any unnecessary matters. And just so the parties understand, both--if the Court finds these to be relevant to the professional competence issues that we discussed, then the Court will disclose a copy to each side and there will be a protective order that those records are not to be further copied or disseminated. All right. Anything else we need to take up before--

7 MR. COCHRAN:

Your Honor, I have one question for clarification.

8 THE COURT:

Yes. Mr. Cochran, good morning, sir.

9 MS. CLARK:

Can we have a moment, your Honor?

10 THE COURT:

Certainly.

11 (Discussion held off the record between Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.)
12 MR. COCHRAN:

Good morning, your Honor. Just a brief question, your Honor, with regard to the Court's order regarding the Coroner's photos. The Court indicates that the Court will allow limited public access to the autopsy photos and I guess my question is when representatives are selected from the news media pool, they will not then be allowed to take pictures, will they?

13 THE COURT:

No. It will be strictly viewing here in Court, similar to the crime scene photos that was--viewing that was conducted previously.

KEY QUOTE
14 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Thank you for that clarification, your Honor.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Lance A. Ito
And in the Court's abundant spare time the Court will look over those records and redact any unnecessary matters.
Dry judicial humor; also signals the volume of material the court is managing.
Lance A. Ito
It will be strictly viewing here in Court, similar to the crime scene photos that was--viewing that was conducted previously.
Establishes the protocol for media access to autopsy photos — view only, no reproduction.
Johnnie Cochran
When representatives are selected from the news media pool, they will not then be allowed to take pictures, will they?
Cochran protecting the defense's interest in limiting dissemination of graphic evidence to the public.

Evidence (2)

Informal
Personnel records subpoenaed by the defense via subpoena duces tecum, subject to in camera review for relevance to professional competence issues
discussed — court to review, redact, and potentially disclose under protective order
Informal
Coroner's autopsy photos
discussed — court clarifies media pool may view but not photograph

Notable Exchanges (1)

Lance A. ItoJohnnie Cochran
Cochran seeks and receives clarification that media representatives viewing autopsy photos will not be permitted to take pictures, consistent with prior crime scene photo viewing protocol.
strategic

Light Moments (1)

Lance A. Ito
Judge quips about reviewing personnel records in his 'abundant spare time'

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 6306 • 14 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JUN 7, 1995 📄 Morning session opening
JUN 7, 1995 KRT DvH TD