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American Morning
Scott Peterson Trial
Aired February 02, 2004 - 08:39 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: The Scott Peterson trial moves to a new court today. The hearing may deal with a number of issues, including when the murder trial will start and which judge will preside.
Joining us this morning from Redwood City in California is CNN's Rusty Dornin.
Hey -- Rusty. Good morning.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
I think the line that comes to mind about this case period over the last few months is hurry up and wait. We still don't know when it will start. We have a pretty good idea who the judge will be, but the final decision will be made this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): Here comes the Peterson trial judge. Maybe. Newly-appointed Judge Alfred Delucchi will preside over the Peterson hearing on Monday, but there is still a battle over whether he or the last judge that was appointed will preside over the trial.
Prosecutors challenged the nomination of Judge Dick Arneson (ph), saying he was prejudiced. Defense attorney Mark Geragos says that challenge wasn't made in a timely fashion. Bottom line, Geragos has made no secret of his pick. He still wants the original judge, Modesto Judge Al Girolami, who has told the court he doesn't want to travel with the case.
If 72-year-old Delucchi presides, those familiar with his courtroom demeanor say it's a win for both sides.
JOHN BURRIS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Now, he's an experienced judge. He has had many death penalty cases, which suggests, No. 1, even- handedness, because that means the prosecution and the defense both like to try their case in front of him.
DORNIN: Both sides have already agreed on a few issues. They don't want cameras in the court. They want witness lists kept confidential. They had also agreed to begin pretrial motions Tuesday, February 17. But now Geragos is asking for a delay. He says he has a 10-day trial coming up before then.
Also, Geragos wants to sequester the jury. Prosecutors don't. Monday's hearing will be the first time Scott Peterson, who was moved last week, will appear in the new venue in San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Attorneys for the news organizations are also going to be appearing in court. They're going to be battling to keep cameras in the courtroom. But a bigger battle may be waging behind the scenes. The city and county of San Mateo did tell some dumbfounded journalists on Friday that it's going to cost them $500,000 to pitch five of the network tents and park the network trucks. And they told them that half of that, each one, $50,000 is due next week. So, there is a battle raging about that right now -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I can only imagine. Rusty Dornin for us this morning. Rusty, thanks.
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 February 2, 2004 - 08:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The Scott Peterson trial moves to a new court today. The hearing may deal with a number of issues, including when the murder trial will start and which judge will preside.
Joining us this morning from Redwood City in California is CNN's Rusty Dornin.
Hey -- Rusty. Good morning.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
I think the line that comes to mind about this case period over the last few months is hurry up and wait. We still don't know when it will start. We have a pretty good idea who the judge will be, but the final decision will be made this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): Here comes the Peterson trial judge. Maybe. Newly-appointed Judge Alfred Delucchi will preside over the Peterson hearing on Monday, but there is still a battle over whether he or the last judge that was appointed will preside over the trial.
Prosecutors challenged the nomination of Judge Dick Arneson (ph), saying he was prejudiced. Defense attorney Mark Geragos says that challenge wasn't made in a timely fashion. Bottom line, Geragos has made no secret of his pick. He still wants the original judge, Modesto Judge Al Girolami, who has told the court he doesn't want to travel with the case.
If 72-year-old Delucchi presides, those familiar with his courtroom demeanor say it's a win for both sides.
JOHN BURRIS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Now, he's an experienced judge. He has had many death penalty cases, which suggests, No. 1, even- handedness, because that means the prosecution and the defense both like to try their case in front of him.
DORNIN: Both sides have already agreed on a few issues. They don't want cameras in the court. They want witness lists kept confidential. They had also agreed to begin pretrial motions Tuesday, February 17. But now Geragos is asking for a delay. He says he has a 10-day trial coming up before then.
Also, Geragos wants to sequester the jury. Prosecutors don't. Monday's hearing will be the first time Scott Peterson, who was moved last week, will appear in the new venue in San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Attorneys for the news organizations are also going to be appearing in court. They're going to be battling to keep cameras in the courtroom. But a bigger battle may be waging behind the scenes. The city and county of San Mateo did tell some dumbfounded journalists on Friday that it's going to cost them $500,000 to pitch five of the network tents and park the network trucks. And they told them that half of that, each one, $50,000 is due next week. So, there is a battle raging about that right now -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I can only imagine. Rusty Dornin for us this morning. Rusty, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
