Bryant to make first district court appearance

Union-Tribune ^ | November 9, 2003 | Jon Sarche - AP

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DENVER – Kobe Bryant heads back to Colorado this week for a court appearance that will look and sound very much like the first one three months ago – a legal formality.

Dozens of reporters and television crews will be on hand in the small mountain town of Eagle to document the proceeding, which could be as short as Bryant's initial proceeding on Aug. 6, which was seven minutes.

Eagle County District Judge Terry Ruckriegle will advise Bryant on Thursday of the charge against him and the possible penalty. Conditions of his bond also could be discussed.

Ruckriegle also could set dates for hearings such as an arraignment or deadlines for filing motions.

Prosecutors believe it is unlikely Bryant will enter a plea, although it would be permitted. Both sides typically discuss that arrangement in advance with the judge, but those conversations haven't occurred with attorneys for the Los Angeles Lakers guard, prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said.

Bryant's attorneys have declined to discuss details of his case.

The court proceeding will occur between Lakers home games Wednesday and Friday.

Bryant, 25, is free on $25,000 bond. He is accused of raping a 19-year-old woman June 30 at the exclusive mountain resort near Edwards where she worked. Bryant has said the two had consensual sex.

If convicted, Bryant would face four years to life in prison and 20 years to life on probation.

During his preliminary hearing, a sheriff's investigator testified that the woman's blood was found on Bryant's T-shirt and that she told friends he raped her. Bryant attorney Pamela Mackey sought to portray the woman as a promiscuous flirt who sneaked into Bryant's room expecting him to make advances on her.

During his Aug. 6 initial appearance in Eagle County Court, Bryant spoke only the words "No, sir," when the judge asked if he objected to giving up his right to have a preliminary hearing within 30 days.

While initial appearances in county and district courts are similar – even in the same courtroom for Bryant – there are some key differences in this case.

Bryant's attorneys had unsuccessfully asked Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett to allow Bryant to skip the earlier hearing, and had unsuccessfully opposed media requests to allow cameras inside the courtroom.

This time, Bryant's attorneys had no position on whether cameras should be allowed in the courtroom and have not asked the judge to let Bryant skip the hearing.

Ruckriegle has ruled the hearing can be photographed and videotaped.

Officials cleared the dockets in the courthouse's two other courtrooms during the first hearing, but that won't be possible this time because of scheduling difficulties.

People with business before a magistrate, a county judge and another district judge on duty that day will have to cope with a crush of reporters and security measures, district court administrator Chris Yuhas said.

"We've got lots of other cases that have to be heard as well and we'll just have to work it in," she said.

The same security measures, including metal detectors and extra police officers and sheriff's deputies, will be in place, Yuhas said.

The usually quiet street where the courthouse sits will be a beehive of activity, with a normally vacant lot across the street filled with TV satellite trucks. Lining the sidewalks will be covered platforms giving TV cameras a vantage point to use the courthouse as a background.

A large white tent will be erected on the lawn outside the courthouse with electricity and phone lines for dozens of reporters and photographers.