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American Morning
Scott Peterson in Court a Bit Later This Morning
Aired August 14, 2003 - 08:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to California right now. Scott Peterson in court a bit later this morning. The judge expected to hear arguments today on whether or not to allow cameras in the courtroom during the preliminary hearing starting September 9.
In Modesto for us today, Chris Filippi with KFBK is back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Good to have you again, Chris.
What's the threshold in your state for the judge to make a ruling on this matter?
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
I really would be surprised if he allowed the live televising of the preliminary hearing. The sense here seems to be, and it's typically what happens in a lot of cases, that the judge will, in fact, allow reporters into the courtroom. In fact, I have been talking to a lot of legal experts. They tell me that it is exceedingly rare not to have reporters inside the courtroom for a preliminary hearing. Yet that's precisely what Scott Peterson's lead defense attorney, Mark Geragos, is asking for, because he wants to keep things as quiet for as long as possible.
He says letting this information out to the public would taint the jury pool. However, it's highly doubtful that he'll get his way on this matter.
HEMMER: So, Chris, what you're saying is that the judge will not allow live cameras in there, but reporters will be allowed.
FILIPPI: Correct.
HEMMER: Is there a possibility, as Jeff Toobin was talking about 45 minutes ago, cameras could be allowed in there, but just on a tape runaround basis, in other words, not a live signal but something to be played later? You're shaking your head. Do you agree with that?
FILIPPI: Yes, I think there's a real possibility for that because we've seen that before in this case. In fact, that's what's going to happen today. There have been full arrangements made for television and for radio, and they allow us in and they allow us to tape the proceedings and then we play it a little bit later, right after the hearing is done. That's the precedent that's been set so far. I honestly don't see why he would change it in this particular case, aside from the fact there's obviously going to be a lot more information. There have been concerns from the defense, clearly, and from the prosecutors about this. But even the prosecutors are in favor of allowing at least having reporters in the courtroom to observe what's going on with this case.
HEMMER: What is Mark Geragos' motivation right now to keep this so private? Is it thought that some believe that there is certain evidence, or at least the appearance of certain evidence that will tell the public, hey, you know, I've got something good here and I just can't let it out right now because the real killers, they're floating out there, they might hear on it and they could run and hide forever.
FILIPPI: That's right. I think that's the general sense here. The longer he can keep the actual information that the prosecution has gathered in this case away from the public, the more time he has to keep that satanic cult theory out there and keep that in the minds of the potential jury pool. That's to his advantage because he's trying to create as much doubt as possible amongst the general public that Scott Peterson was not responsible for the death of Laci Peterson.
One interesting point on this case that I want to bring up about Geragos, and this is something we've not yet seen yet before, but as part of the agenda today, the judge, Girolami, is actually going to question Geragos at some point today about whether Geragos violated the gag order in this case. You'll recall earlier this week, defense experts examined the remains of Laci and Conner Peterson. Right after that, Geragos spoke with the press for a few minutes and there are concerns, at least on the part of this judge, that he may have violated the gag order by doing that.
HEMMER: Something to watch in addition to everything else. You're on record with us, Chris.
Thanks.
FILIPPI: You've got it.
HEMMER: We'll see what happens later today then again on the 9th of September.
Chris Filippi there in Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 14, 2003 - 08:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to California right now. Scott Peterson in court a bit later this morning. The judge expected to hear arguments today on whether or not to allow cameras in the courtroom during the preliminary hearing starting September 9.
In Modesto for us today, Chris Filippi with KFBK is back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Good to have you again, Chris.
What's the threshold in your state for the judge to make a ruling on this matter?
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
I really would be surprised if he allowed the live televising of the preliminary hearing. The sense here seems to be, and it's typically what happens in a lot of cases, that the judge will, in fact, allow reporters into the courtroom. In fact, I have been talking to a lot of legal experts. They tell me that it is exceedingly rare not to have reporters inside the courtroom for a preliminary hearing. Yet that's precisely what Scott Peterson's lead defense attorney, Mark Geragos, is asking for, because he wants to keep things as quiet for as long as possible.
He says letting this information out to the public would taint the jury pool. However, it's highly doubtful that he'll get his way on this matter.
HEMMER: So, Chris, what you're saying is that the judge will not allow live cameras in there, but reporters will be allowed.
FILIPPI: Correct.
HEMMER: Is there a possibility, as Jeff Toobin was talking about 45 minutes ago, cameras could be allowed in there, but just on a tape runaround basis, in other words, not a live signal but something to be played later? You're shaking your head. Do you agree with that?
FILIPPI: Yes, I think there's a real possibility for that because we've seen that before in this case. In fact, that's what's going to happen today. There have been full arrangements made for television and for radio, and they allow us in and they allow us to tape the proceedings and then we play it a little bit later, right after the hearing is done. That's the precedent that's been set so far. I honestly don't see why he would change it in this particular case, aside from the fact there's obviously going to be a lot more information. There have been concerns from the defense, clearly, and from the prosecutors about this. But even the prosecutors are in favor of allowing at least having reporters in the courtroom to observe what's going on with this case.
HEMMER: What is Mark Geragos' motivation right now to keep this so private? Is it thought that some believe that there is certain evidence, or at least the appearance of certain evidence that will tell the public, hey, you know, I've got something good here and I just can't let it out right now because the real killers, they're floating out there, they might hear on it and they could run and hide forever.
FILIPPI: That's right. I think that's the general sense here. The longer he can keep the actual information that the prosecution has gathered in this case away from the public, the more time he has to keep that satanic cult theory out there and keep that in the minds of the potential jury pool. That's to his advantage because he's trying to create as much doubt as possible amongst the general public that Scott Peterson was not responsible for the death of Laci Peterson.
One interesting point on this case that I want to bring up about Geragos, and this is something we've not yet seen yet before, but as part of the agenda today, the judge, Girolami, is actually going to question Geragos at some point today about whether Geragos violated the gag order in this case. You'll recall earlier this week, defense experts examined the remains of Laci and Conner Peterson. Right after that, Geragos spoke with the press for a few minutes and there are concerns, at least on the part of this judge, that he may have violated the gag order by doing that.
HEMMER: Something to watch in addition to everything else. You're on record with us, Chris.
Thanks.
FILIPPI: You've got it.
HEMMER: We'll see what happens later today then again on the 9th of September.
Chris Filippi there in Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
