Whoa...



Michael Jackson Replacing Attorneys
By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP

LOS ANGELES (April 25) - Michael Jackson is replacing high-profile attorneys Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman in his child molestation case, the lawyers told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The pop superstar's new lawyer will be Thomas Mesereau Jr., another well-known criminal defense attorney who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case until they recently parted company, citing irreconcilable differences.

''Based on recent developments and discussions with various persons in the Jackson camp, it became clear that it would be best if Mark and I decided to step down,'' Brafman said. ''And that's what we elected to do.''

Asked why, Brafman said, ''For reasons we choose not to discuss publicly.''

He added, ''We both wish Michael well.''

Mesereau declined to answer questions Sunday. ''I'll have no comment on the developments until I appear in court Friday,'' he said.

Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone K. Bain, said she was unaware of the change when asked about it by a reporter.

Geragos, who was in Northern California handling the Scott Peterson murder case on Sunday, said he, Brafman and Mesereau will notify Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville of the substitution of counsel during a conference call Monday. He declined to discuss reasons for the change.

Dana Cole, an attorney who has worked closely with Mesereau on cases including Blake's, said Mesereau was approached by Jackson soon after he was charged with child molestation. He said Mesereau was unwilling to take the case at the time because he was tied up with the Blake case.

He said Mesereau would represent Jackson at a pretrial hearing where the singer is expected to be arraigned.

''Michael Jackson has always been very impressed with the pro bono work and contributions Tom has made in the African-American community,'' Cole said.

Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon had no comment, said Jason Karpf of Tellem Worldwide, a firm handling media inquiries for Sneddon in the Jackson case.

Jackson's case moved into a new phase last week when a grand jury secretly indicted him on child molestation charges. Contents of the indictment are not yet known and will be disclosed at his arraignment.

Jackson, 45, was originally charged with seven counts of lewd or lascivious conduct involving a child under 14 and with administering an intoxicant, reportedly wine, to a child under 14.

The indictment means that a grand jury has decided there is probable cause to hold Jackson for trial.

Jackson is free on $3 million bail and recently has been staying at a Florida compound with his children.


04-25-04 1755EDT

Yah Just Heard the News
shocked me
I heard a story that it was because they were suppose to be only in
the preliminary proceedings
a highly doubt it
Mj is being manipulated by the people around him again
mixture of the nation of islam and his family members
Geragos has the peterson case which i understand
but Brafman is a good attorney, i don't understand why the change of roster
Then Again MJ's original Legal team consisting of Braffa and cochran and 5 other lawyers
were not to fond of Geragos and Brafman
Beats me tho
i have no idea whats going on....
I'll keep u posted!

Ooookay, let's replace some competent lawyers with the attorney Robert Blake unceremoniously DUMPED. WTF?

Well, if the devil himself is representing you (he reps Scott fucking Peterson - HELLO??? ) & you have to go w/ someone else, just how SHADY is your case???

CalhounSq said:

Luv4Oneanotha bitches you out in 5...4...3...2...1....

VoicesCarry said:

BRING IT ON!!

CalhounSq said:

lolol good point
but he made a good call
i don't think it was his call
but all in all a good call
[This message was edited Sun Apr 25 21:43:33 2004 by Luv4oneanotha]

Luv4oneanotha said:

How and why was it a good call? Do you have inside information?

MJ IS TOAST!!!

Shapeshifter said:

That's what I'm wondering. I have family members who are attorneys that work with entertainers and we were just discussing this. How on EARTH would it be a good call to "dump" Mark Geragos? Regardless of who else he's representing he is a brilliant legal mind with a solid reputation for getting his clients OFF. If you look at this from an objective point of view, the object of Michael's defense team is to ensure the prosecution dosen't WIN, period. Geragos is a brilliant enough spin doctor who rates high enough in likability that he could probably represent Jack The Ripper and get HIM off with the least amount of jail time possible. I'm not sure his stepping aside from Michael's case was a good thing AT all.

Where's Johnnie Cochran when you need him?

ReeseStrongnight said:

Because anything King Michael does is a good call! Duh!

What I know is that Mark Geragos is very busy with his Peterson case. There was an argument the last couple of weeks about how to proceed in MJ's case and Geragos preferred to slow it down, on the other hand MJ and his family want to end this thing asap and so both parties agreed to split.

We will hear a statement or even a press conference with new and old lawyers today. No beef or anything like that. It is very suprising, but it has nothing to do with strengh of the case.

BlueNote
[This message was edited Mon Apr 26 7:12:01 2004 by BlueNote]

Thumparello said:

...with butter, jam and a worn-out rhinestone-encrusted glove.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Cloudbuster said:

i said , not !

Cloudbuster said:

aw, quit blushin.

here... <----it's fresh!

You're as sick as I am.

Cloudbuster said:

that's why you luv me.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Indeed.

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL JACKSON REGARDING THE TERMINATION OF ATTORNEYS MARK GERAGOS & BENJAMIN BRAFMAN


Michael Jackson releases the following statement with regards to the termination of Mark Geragos, Esquire, and Benjamin Brafman, Esquire:

“I have terminated the services of Attorneys Mark Geragos, Esquire, and Benjamin Brafman, Esquire, effective immediately. I have hired Los Angeles attorney, Thomas Mesereau, a well-regarded Criminal Defense attorney, who will be working, as lead attorney, with my long time attorney, Steve Cochran. Prominent Santa Barbara attorney, Robert Sanger, will also remain on the team. Let me make it clear, I have not replaced my Defense team, I have replaced the lead attorneys. And, contrary to reports, this is a decision that I have personally made.

“It is imperative that I have the full attention of those who are representing me. My life is at stake. Therefore, I must feel confident that my interests are of the highest priority. I am innocent of these false charges, and will aggressively seek to clear my name. I feel very confident that when I am able to defend myself, I will be exonerated by a jury of my peers.

“I would like to thank Messrs. Geragos and Brafman for the work they have done, and I wish them well.”

Source: MJJsource.com/MJJForum

Michael's panicking by the looks of things. He has a tendency to do that. However he dresses it up, this cannot be a good move this late in the proceedings. Should've stuck.

Marrk said:

Cloudbuster said:

Just saying.

OK, Great move Mike! Geragos was a useless turd! Ask Winona!

Better cloudy?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

dazzjped said:

That's probably the truest statement he's made in years!!

Not sure how I feel about MJ's choice for a new legal team...