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CNN Live Event/Special

Prosecutors in Dog Mauling Trial Hold Press Conference

Aired March 19, 2002 - 14:01   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: About 30 minutes ago, we heard from Nedra Ruiz, a defense attorney for Marjorie Knoller. This the dog mauling trial underway in L.A. Jim Hammer, the prosecuting attorney right now talking with reporters as the jury, once again, deliberates this case as we speak.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

JIM HAMMER, PROSECUTOR: I'm proud of everything we've done in this case. We've bowed to no one's pressure. We've fought all along to put on a fair case, and now leave it up to the jury to decide what the right charges in this case are.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've been on television quite a bit.

HAMMER: Almost as much as you, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not me.

HAMMER: Any other questions?

QUESTION: Ruiz says that the judge treats you more fairly (OFF- MIKE).

HAMMER: Ms. Ruiz stood here -- and I think, frankly, it's contempt, if you look up under the law of professional conduct, to charge a judge with bias and to attack the judge's motives, especially while the jury is out. If the judge gets a hold of this tape, he will have to decide whether or not she violated more orders of the judge and also professional rules of conduct.

This judge has been fair. He has excluded some evidence -- he's excluded evidence we wanted into the trial at the defense behest. I think he has moved this case along. And I think he's done an admirable job. And I think it's really, frankly, desperate of Miss Ruiz to be attacking Judge Warren. She had her chance to talk about the evidence in court. And so to come out here in front of the press and attack Judge Warner behind his back I think is cowardly.

QUESTION: Have you ever read the "New York Times"?

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what you objected yesterday?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't hear that Mr. Cameron (ph). HAMMER: Are you with UP or API?

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Larry, now, let's not get...

HEMMER: Quite clearly, the attorneys right now sparring publicly. We heard from Nedra Ruiz about 30 minutes ago. Jim Hammer saying that there are rules against which she has said regarding her opinion of the judge in that case. But the important point, at this point anyway, is that jurors have that case deliberating right now in Los Angeles. And certainly, it's something we're keeping a close eye on. Thelma Gutierrez is going to check in a bit later here in our broadcast this hour.

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