The Official Michael Jackson in Court Thread

Well, it appears this is needed. After many requests, and since the case is about to begin with jury selection this month, the thread is merited.

Let the comments begin.

- June7

Jackson Stands Before Prospective Jurors
39 minutes ago Entertainment - AP
By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Dressed in a bright white suit and a jewel-trimmed vest and belt, Michael Jackson (news) on Monday stood before the first group of prospective jurors who could decide his fate on charges he molested a teenage cancer patient and plied the boy with alcohol at his Neverland Ranch.

The pop superstar, accompanied by four defense lawyers, stood and smiled as he faced prospective jurors for the start of jury selection in what could become the most sensational celebrity trial the world has ever seen. He greeted the clerk with a handshake at the courthouse in this small coastal city in central California.

Outside, fans from around the world pressed up against a chain-link fence and shouted words of encouragement, holding up signs that read, "Dear God, Please Give Michael Justice" and "France Supports and Loves MJ."

Fans danced and sang a Jackson song attacking the district attorney and booed a woman who held a sign backing the accuser.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, whom Jackson has derided in a song as a "cold man" with a vendetta, did not come to court. A deputy represented the prosecution.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a teenage boy — then 13, now 15 — and plying him with alcohol.

On Sunday, Jackson issued a court-approved video statement on his Web site, predicting he would be acquitted. His parents also spoke out in his defense Monday, saying the young accuser was after his money.

"I know my son, and this is ridiculous," his mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview broadcast on CBS' "The Early Show." She said people who believe her son is guilty "don't know him."

Judge Rodney Melville told the first group of 150 prospective jurors that they might have to serve for about six months, but that it was an important duty.

"Most of us have relatives who have fought and died to protect this service," Melville said. "Freedom is not free. Jury duty is part of the cost of freedom."

The first group was predominantly white. About a quarter appeared to be Hispanic. There were only three blacks.

Sixty-six members of the first group asked to be excused, but during questioning by the judge two changed their minds. A woman who said she was eight months pregnant was excused from the case.

Five hundred more prospective jurors were to be processed later Monday and on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Those not excused will out questionnaires, and then will be questioned individually by the attorneys. The judge wants 12 jurors in addition to eight alternates.

The small-town feel of the jury pool was apparent during questioning. One woman ran a pet shop, while another was in local real estate. One woman said she could get a medical excuse from her doctor across the street. A few said they have friends who work at Jackson's Neverland ranch.

Prospective jurors were addressed with nine-digit numbers in court.

One woman said she worked at an elementary school where she dealt with "people that need counseling for molestation."

Other prospective jurors said they had to care for sick relatives or had too many job responsibilities. One woman said that at 75, she was "just too old."

"You don't look a day over 60," the judge replied.

The woman said she was willing to serve if she had to, but noted she had "a multitude of illnesses."

When another woman said she had to be home every night to care for her mother, the judge told her that she would be home every night.

"Don't they lock juries up, too?" the prospect asked, inquiring if the judge could guarantee she would get home.

"Oh yeah, I'm going home every night," said Melville, who intends to end each day of trial by 2:30 p.m.

One man said he couldn't serve because his employer wouldn't pay him while he was on jury duty.

"Your employer doesn't pay jury service?" asked Melville.

"He's an attorney, no sir," the man said.

June7 said:

Now Showing: The Jackson Trial
2 hours, 1 minute ago Entertainment - E! Online Gossip/Celeb
By Joal Ryan

First came the black umbrella, popped open and poised high in the air. Next came the cheers, knowing and anticipating. And then came Michael Jackson, smiling and peace-sign flashing.

And so with practiced precision, the most famous man on the planet arrived for the start of the most anticipated celebrity trial of the year.

Monday's official business at Department SM2 of the Santa Maria, California, courthouse--jury selection--was more routine, with a number of prospective jurors explaining why serving the six months that Jackson's child-molestation trial is expected to last would be a financial or personal hardship.

Gone was the seeming mob scene of last year's arraignment. Absent were the Jackson 5.

The Jackson One arrived 35 minutes early for his scheduled 9:30 a.m. court date. He dressed down, or as down as Michael Jackson can--white shirt, white vest, white pants, sunglasses. No fedora, no glove, no armband, no stripes, no medals, no Janet, no LaToya, no Tito. (Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville had requested that Jackson limit the number of Jacksons in the courtroom, at least for the first few days of the proceedings.) The umbrella, held by an assistant, was his lone affectation. Even his mode of transportation--a black GMC Yukon XL--was understated for a defendant who'd once arrived by stretch SUV, and then danced atop it.

"I think it's taken him some time to realize this is not about [being a showman]," Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli said on the courthouse grounds on the eve of the trial opener. "[That] this is very serious charge, and the court here in Santa Maria deserves a certain amount of respect, and it's supposed to be a dignified process. I think he gets that now."

It was a serious-sounding Jackson who issued a video statement Sunday, signed off on by the gag-order-favoring Melville, deriding leaked grand-jury testimony as "ugly" and "malicious," and reminding that "I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen."

Per the buzz from fans in the penned-off area near the court entrance, Jackson looked "good" and "confident" on Monday morning.

Such fans are hardly impartial. But they're not inexpert, either. For if Jackson has grown accustomed to courthouse rituals, so have the faithful.

In the chill of the bright blue morning, they numbered about 200--tops. (By comparison, court officials said they credentialed 1,200 journalists for the proceedings.)

As the hardest of the hardcore, they know the umbrella means Jackson's appearance is imminent. They know defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. is on their side (and worthy of being greeted with cheers surpassed only by those for their hero). They know to mass at the center of the courthouse fence to get a better view of the goings-on (and to give the TV cameras a better shot). And, above all, they know reporters are suckers for gimmicks--signs, costumes, black fedoras, etc.

"We all construct images that are likely to sell," said Andy Wood, who teaches communications at San Jose State University. "There are people [at the courthouse] selling T-shirts or selling key chains...You see some people with flags of other countries around them to get the international angle. And as long as we don't take each other too seriously, it's a lot of fun."

Wood knows first hand of the fun. Bright and early Monday morning, he was on Miller Street outside the Santa Maria courthouse. Holding a sign. Wearing a black fedora.

There's a little irony involved, and it's a little absurd," said Wood, making his second Jackson court appearance. "But the main thing is I support my daughter. She loves Michael Jackson. I love her, so why not have some fun?"

True to his soundbite and attendance record, Wood's sign read: "My daughter dragged me out here--again." The image sold. Before 8 a.m., the professor said he'd done about 20 interviews.

Marta Wozniak guessed she'd been interrogated the same number of times. Her hook: She's a Jackson fan from Poland, hence her sign, "Poland Is Here for U Michael Jackson."

Wozniak, 29, and looking no worse from her transatlantic flight four days ago, said she brought the poster so that: (1) Jackson would know the European nation was representing; and (2) that reporters would take notice, ask her questions and give her a chance to defend her idol.

She absolutely did not bring the sign to get on camera or in the newspaper or on the Web. "It's not for me," Wozniak said.

Luv4oneanotha said:

June7 said:

Well, it appears this is needed. After many requests, and since the case is about to begin with jury selection this month, the thread is merited.

Let the comments begin.

- June7

Finally gave in huh Juney..

Got to satisfy the public lolol

i so want his glasses

so he s been caught wanking off kids????

Randy looks like a tall Emmanuel Lewis!!

I've often wondered if construction of a red lightsaber takes place before you can become a Republican, or is it something you do after initiation. Dah, well...

A sticky!! I win!!!!!




Oh, and may i observe that he looks mmm fitter and less out of it than he did during the whole 'Invincible era'.
[Edited 2/1/05 6:29am]

SpcMs said:

A sticky!! I win!!!!!




Oh, and may i observe that he looks mmm fitter and less out of it than he did during the whole 'Invincible era'.
[Edited 2/1/05 6:29am]

VoicesCarry said:

Why are the accusers always good-looking Latin kids?


I hope to Hell he's innocent . . .

Man, I just left tha wrecka stow, and they had Dangerous on vinyl for $15. I passed on it because it didn't have any pics.



Trying to act like he doesn't care, Adisa knows he will go back later and buy it.

I've often wondered if construction of a red lightsaber takes place before you can become a Republican, or is it something you do after initiation. Dah, well...

Does anybody know who represents the DA's office out there? Where is Sneddon?

BlueNote

trashoblanco said:

Jury Pool Selection is over! No court tomorrow. Court will resume on monday.

BlueNote

Anyone see the special on VH1 last night?

This thread is remarkably slow for the MJ sticky.

Now that the milk is free we've all become lactose intolerant?

A thousand reporters on the Jackson case.

Five hundred in Iraq.

Allegiance. Hurray! Hurray!

VoicesCarry said:

This thread is remarkably slow for the MJ sticky.

Now that the milk is free we've all become lactose intolerant?

u know this is gonna be fun

but eh

the media is going a tad overboard, im afraid they're only going to make things worst

Jackson accuser's mom 'a liar'
02/02/2005 07:34 - (SA)

Los Angeles - Prosecutors want to block lawyers for Michael Jackson from telling the jury at his child molestation trial about prior lawsuits filed by the family of his young accuser, documents showed on Tuesday.

Prosecutors asked the California court to bar mention of any prior litigation by the mother of the 13-year-old boy who has accused Jackson of abuse.

Jackson's trial started on Monday with jury selection.

Jackson's team has alleged in pre-trial hearings that the boy's mother, known in court documents as Jane Doe, is a "liar" and a greedy opportunist who has a history of launching lawsuits aimed at winning financial settlements.

Doe obtained a $137 500 settlement from a United States department store which she sued in 2001, claiming security guards had assaulted her and her two sons.

Many previous cases

And in May, the family sued Los Angeles child welfare officials seeking financial damages over the leak of a confidential memo, which said a departmental investigation had found there was no evidence to suggest Jackson had sexually assaulted the boy.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon has asked trial Judge Rodney Melville to "limit introduction of evidence if prior litigation involving the Doe family."
The judge is expected to consider the request at a hearing set for February 10, according to court documents.

Jackson's team of lawyers has made it clear that they intend to attack the credibility of the woman and her family to cast doubt on the veracity of their allegations against the "King of Pop."

Prosecutors have also asked Melville to "exclude reference by defence counsel to Jane Doe's use of 'psychiatric medication' from the trial," according to another of the court documents obtained Tuesday.

In a further attempt to protect the reputation and credibility of the accuser's mother, prosecutors asked Melville to ban "any reference by defence counsel to any alleged extra-marital sexual conduct by Jane Doe."

However no further details of the three motions were available as they are sealed by the court under a strict gag order governing the case ahead of the start of arguments, expected at the end of February at the earliest.

Jackson has dismissed the allegations that he molested the boy on several occasions at Neverland Ranch in February and March of 2003 as a "big lie" concocted by the boy's family in a bid to extort money from him.

He has pleaded innocent to 10 counts, including child abuse, plying the boy with alcohol and alleged plots to kidnap and falsely imprison the boy at Neverland, as well as to extort the boy's family.

Jury selection in Jackson's trial is due to resume on Monday when rival lawyers will begin grilling about 250 prospective jurors on their possible biases.

SpcMs said:

Novabreaker said:

"The star outside the court room"



D. Dimond
[Edited 2/2/05 4:40am]

SpcMs said: