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American Morning
Change of Venue in Peterson Case
Aired January 09, 2004 - 09:09 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the change of venue in the Scott Peterson case. A judge in Modesto, California says pretrial publicity makes it impossible for Scott Peterson to get his fair trial there, and he's agreed to a defense request to move the double murder case to another county.
Joining us from Modesto this morning to talk about the ruling is the city's mayor, Jim Ridnour.
Nice to see you. Thank you for being with us. We appreciate it.
MYR. JIM RIDENOUR, MODESTO, CALIFORNIA: Thank you for inviting me.
O'BRIEN: Two weeks you've been mayor now. And legal analysts have said, really for quite a long time, that they expected that there would be a change in venue, that emotions, for the most part, were just running just too high in Modesto to give Scott Peterson a fair trial.
So two questions for you to start. First, are you disappointed or angered by the judge's decision? And two, do you think what the analysts said about Scott Peterson's inability to get a fair trial, do you think that's true?
RIDENOUR: Well, I believe in the people in Modesto. I believe we could have had a fair trial here and they could have gotten the jury they needed.
Am I angered? No, I'm not angered, because I believe the judicial system will work, wherever it is.
O'BRIEN: Even with all the coverage in Modesto? I have spent a fair amount of time in California, not such a big area, even with all the reporters camped out, and interviewing practically every single person in Modesto about their opinion on this case?
RIDENOUR: Well, I still believe that we would have found the 12, 15 people they needed. There's a lot of people in Modesto. And I don't think all of them had made up their mind from what they read and seen on the media.
O'BRIEN: How do you think the intense media coverage has affected Modesto? Obviously, you're a long-time resident, even though you've just been mayor for a short while?
RIDENOUR: It's had a big effect. I mean, with the trucks and everything here, we've had to make street closures and stuff. But I really believe the media has worked very well, from what I understand, with the law enforcement, and has worked very well during this trial.
O'BRIEN: Your constituents, do you think they're going to be angered by this judge's decision, or do you think they'll understand?
RIDENOUR: I think they aisle understand. I don't think you'll have people that will be upset about what's going on.
O'BRIEN: Do you have any interest in the case, whether it goes to the Bay Area or down to Los Angeles County?
RIDENOUR: Well, I would like to see it stay in the Bay Area, as far as going that far away. I also look at the expense that it would be. I still think it would be fair trial, even in the Bay Area.
O'BRIEN: Is there an upside, sir, to the media moving out of Modesto? Do you think it will bring a sense of calm and relief to your community?
RIDENOUR: Yes, I do. I think we can get back to normal. It's a brand new year. I'm looking forward to the council, and we got a great council. I'm looking forward to Modesto having some good news, instead of the pains we've had in the past.
O'BRIEN: Jim Ridenour is the mayor of Modesto, California.
Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for being with us. Appreciate it.
RIDENOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
O'BRIEN: My pleasure.
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 January 9, 2004 - 09:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the change of venue in the Scott Peterson case. A judge in Modesto, California says pretrial publicity makes it impossible for Scott Peterson to get his fair trial there, and he's agreed to a defense request to move the double murder case to another county.
Joining us from Modesto this morning to talk about the ruling is the city's mayor, Jim Ridnour.
Nice to see you. Thank you for being with us. We appreciate it.
MYR. JIM RIDENOUR, MODESTO, CALIFORNIA: Thank you for inviting me.
O'BRIEN: Two weeks you've been mayor now. And legal analysts have said, really for quite a long time, that they expected that there would be a change in venue, that emotions, for the most part, were just running just too high in Modesto to give Scott Peterson a fair trial.
So two questions for you to start. First, are you disappointed or angered by the judge's decision? And two, do you think what the analysts said about Scott Peterson's inability to get a fair trial, do you think that's true?
RIDENOUR: Well, I believe in the people in Modesto. I believe we could have had a fair trial here and they could have gotten the jury they needed.
Am I angered? No, I'm not angered, because I believe the judicial system will work, wherever it is.
O'BRIEN: Even with all the coverage in Modesto? I have spent a fair amount of time in California, not such a big area, even with all the reporters camped out, and interviewing practically every single person in Modesto about their opinion on this case?
RIDENOUR: Well, I still believe that we would have found the 12, 15 people they needed. There's a lot of people in Modesto. And I don't think all of them had made up their mind from what they read and seen on the media.
O'BRIEN: How do you think the intense media coverage has affected Modesto? Obviously, you're a long-time resident, even though you've just been mayor for a short while?
RIDENOUR: It's had a big effect. I mean, with the trucks and everything here, we've had to make street closures and stuff. But I really believe the media has worked very well, from what I understand, with the law enforcement, and has worked very well during this trial.
O'BRIEN: Your constituents, do you think they're going to be angered by this judge's decision, or do you think they'll understand?
RIDENOUR: I think they aisle understand. I don't think you'll have people that will be upset about what's going on.
O'BRIEN: Do you have any interest in the case, whether it goes to the Bay Area or down to Los Angeles County?
RIDENOUR: Well, I would like to see it stay in the Bay Area, as far as going that far away. I also look at the expense that it would be. I still think it would be fair trial, even in the Bay Area.
O'BRIEN: Is there an upside, sir, to the media moving out of Modesto? Do you think it will bring a sense of calm and relief to your community?
RIDENOUR: Yes, I do. I think we can get back to normal. It's a brand new year. I'm looking forward to the council, and we got a great council. I'm looking forward to Modesto having some good news, instead of the pains we've had in the past.
O'BRIEN: Jim Ridenour is the mayor of Modesto, California.
Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for being with us. Appreciate it.
RIDENOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
O'BRIEN: My pleasure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
