Sidebar: exhibit visibility

📄 Sidebar: exhibit visibility — Monday, May 1, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAY\1\SIDEBAR-EXHIBIT-VISIBILITY.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 64 of 167

◀ Direct examination of Gregory Matheson (afternoon, part 3) Direct examination of Gregory Matheson (afternoon, part 4) ▶

Date: Monday, May 1, 1995 • Utterances: 8

Defense attorney Blasier raised a sidebar objection about an upcoming exhibit board, requesting that OJ Simpson be given a way to view the exhibits as they were displayed. Judge Ito resolved it by directing that exhibits be placed against the wall on an easel as usual. The exchange was largely procedural, punctuated by light banter from Cochran and a sarcastic jab from prosecutor Goldberg about the tedium of the direct examination.

# 1 MR. BLASIER:

Your Honor, I have an objection to another board. Could we briefly approach while they are finding it?

# 2 THE COURT:

Yes, with the Court reporter, please

# 3 (The following proceedings were held at the bench:)

# 4 MR. BLASIER:

Mr. Simpson wants to see these. As they are going through them he wants some way of seeing them. Can you put them on his monitor? I know you are watching it on Court T.V. I think. I think he has a right to--

KEY QUOTE

# 5 THE COURT:

Well, I will tell you what. Let's do this. Let's put them where we normally put them against the wall there for the jury to see.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

We can stay in our seats, too. Unless he can walk over with me and stay awake.

KEY QUOTE

# 7 MR. GOLDBERG:

Well, Mr. Cochran has complained about the highly exciting and stimulating nature of this portion of the direct examination, but if counsel wishes to stipulate, I will be more than happy to do that.

KEY QUOTE

# 8 THE COURT:

No. Let's put the easel over--

Temperature

light

Key Quotes (3)

Robert Blasier

Mr. Simpson wants to see these. As they are going through them he wants some way of seeing them.

Defense assertion of defendant's right to view evidence being shown to the jury in real time.

Johnnie Cochran

We can stay in our seats, too. Unless he can walk over with me and stay awake.

Offhand quip suggesting the proceedings are so dull that staying awake is a challenge — light moment with an edge.

Hank Goldberg

Mr. Cochran has complained about the highly exciting and stimulating nature of this portion of the direct examination, but if counsel wishes to stipulate, I will be more than happy to do that.

Sarcastic response to Cochran's sleepiness joke, signaling Goldberg is aware his direct is dry and not apologizing for it.

Evidence (1)

Informal

A board or exhibit display being shown during direct examination, specific exhibit not identified in transcript

discussed — placement logistics resolved

Notable Exchanges (1)

Johnnie Cochran•Hank Goldberg

Cochran quipped about staying awake during the direct; Goldberg volleyed back sarcastically about the 'highly exciting and stimulating' nature of his own examination.

light sparring

Light Moments (2)

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran joked that OJ could walk over with him to see the exhibits — 'unless he can walk over with me and stay awake,' implying the direct examination is boring.

Hank Goldberg

Goldberg responded with mock offense, sarcastically acknowledging Cochran's complaint about the 'highly exciting and stimulating' portion of direct.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 5863 • 8 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103