Distaso attacks defense motion

The Modesto Bee ^ | Jan 8 2004 | John Cote'

[Canadian Outrage]

Firstly, this University should BEGIN firing this Law Professors A$$!! There needs to be consequences for this. I'm certainly glad I didn't have to cheat my way through my nursing and paralegal degrees. I could NEVER live with my conscience. Secondly, an EXTENSIVE investigation needs to be done regarding where and how the Defense team come into this. To divorce the two I think is a Big Mistake.

[Canadian Outrage]

Grizz - People need to WANT to be helped. Otherwise it's a waste of everybody's time.

[Devil_Anse]

Was he a law professor? I thought he was a statistics professor or something like that, and that his students were undergraduates. (Professor of Polling 101?)

I agree that his butt ought to be fired for this.

[drjulie]

"Was he a law professor?"

As I recall he is a criminal justice professor and I'm pretty sure the students were undergraduates. I could be wrong, though. The consequences for him will likely depend on whether he has tenure or not. At the very least he is currently a laughing stock among his peers, which is really no small thing in academia!

[RGSpincich]

and she's told them much more than that.

And we ain't talkin' saltillo tiles here. I was tolerant of her when she was somewhat civil and not doing the "dumb" act. Sybil has surpassed even her namesake in her number of multiple personalities.

[drjulie]

"Secondly, an EXTENSIVE investigation needs to be done regarding where and how the Defense team come into this. To divorce the two I think is a Big Mistake."

I agree. I'm guessing the professor contacted Geragos after it was done - but who knows?? Nontheless, I think Geragos had a responsibility at that point to examine the methodology before admitting it into court. Also, don't you think the judge could have done more? Or does the judge assume that the attorneys have scrutinized what they present? This kind of makes the judge look bad, too. Getting back to the venue change, though...I think I agree with it because I don't want Scott to have an appealable issue (Of course, I'm not an attorney or paralegal so my opinion on this is probably not worth much!) I do feel sorry for Laci's family because it will be inconvenient for them to drive or fly to a distant location for the trial. I just hope it is not moved to LA - although I think they've narrowed it down to three places at this point, haven't they? I get busy and lose track of events!

[Devil_Anse]

Uh-oh, there's that "T" word! I suspect that he does have it.

His being a laughingstock is pretty good consolation. BUT economic consequences would be better!

[Devil_Anse]

Also, don't you think the judge could have done more?

After the fact, he can do plenty. But back when no one knew the study was bogus... judges let the lawyers do the work of justifying their positions. It's not really a judge's place to independently investigate what the lawyers bring him. Had he heard anything at all that suggested a problem with the study beforehand, that would be different--then, yes, he would have wanted to see to it.

But ordinarily, absent an indication that something's not right, the adversarial system keeps the attorneys in line, with the judge as the arbiter of the conflicts. Not saying whether this is morally wrong or right; just saying that this is how the system works.

[Devil_Anse]

There's one consolation, for when we are worried that this guy might get freed on appeal. That is, that it is harder for the aggrieved party to prevail on appeal, than it is for them to prevail at trial. The appellate courts give a lot of weight to the fact that the trial judge (and the jury) were THERE, and physically SAW and HEARD all that was presented. Hence, IMO, it would be harder for a guy like Scott to get a conviction overturned on appeal, than it would be for him to win the trial in the first place.

[Devil_Anse]

Multiple personalities come easily to her, b/c she is a fraud from beginning to end. She also has nothing but contempt for FR, and comes here solely to disrupt.

[runningbear]

Oh these pics of Scott Peterson... ;o(

Will lazy college students sidetrack Scott Petersons trial?

Scott

Will lazy college students sidetrack Scott Petersons trial?

Though a judge ruled last Thursday to move Scott Peterson's trial out of Modesto, Calif., new revelations suggest defense surveys were partly "made up."

By Harriet Ryan

Court TV

When a judge decided last week to move Scott Peterson's trial out of Modesto, Calif., he singled out as particularly persuasive an independent poll by a local college professor showing the overwhelming majority of the community believed the accused murderer guilty.

Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said the telephone survey, which gauged public opinion across the state on the case, was not only "the most thorough" submitted, but also clearly indicated that jurors in other parts of California were more apt to keep an open mind.

But hours after the ruling, six of the professor's students confessed they had fabricated the raw data because they were either too busy studying for finals or to poor to afford the toll calls, according to a local report.

"We falsified the info," one student told the Modesto Bee. "The stuff we submitted wasn't true."

Just what the impact of these revelations will be is unclear. The judge is scheduled to meet with lawyers Jan. 20 to choose another venue for the trial, and he could change some or all of his ruling at that time.

Prosecutors bitterly opposed moving the trial out of Modesto and immediately urged the students, who spoke to the newspaper anonymously, to contact the district attorney's office.

Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold would not say whether they have interviewed any students, nor whether they plan to ask Judge Girolami to rethink his decision, but he acknowledged the office was intrigued by the reports......

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Judge rules to move Scott Peterson's trial from Modesto

Scott and Mark Geragos

Judge rules to move Scott Peterson's trial from Modesto

Scott Peterson's murder trial will not be held in Modesto, Calif.

By Harriet Ryan

Court TV

Modesto, Calif. — A judge ordered Scott Peterson's double-murder trial moved to another county Thursday afternoon, saying intense press coverage would make it difficult to pick an unbiased jury locally.

"Despite the court's best efforts, the nature and extent of the publicity this case has received has rendered Stanislaus County an inappropriate venue," Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said.

Citing "8,000 articles worldwide and at least 150 here in Modesto" stemming from last year's disappearance of Peterson's pregnant wife, Laci, the judge said, "There's a reasonable likelihood that in the absence of a change of venue, the defendant would not be tried by a fair and impartial jury."

The judge will consult with state court officials before convening a hearing Jan. 20 to select a new location. Girolami said he favored a larger metropolitan area within driving distance of Modesto and specifically named Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties as possible contenders.

Peterson's defense had hoped to move the trial to Los Angeles, where lead attorney, Mark Geragos, is based. The judge, however, said he opposed southern California because of the inconvenience to witnesses from Modesto........

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County able but not eager to host Peterson trial

Posted on Mon, Jan. 12, 2004

County able but not eager to host Peterson trial

By Brandon Bailey

Mercury News

Santa Clara County's presiding judge told state officials today that the local court system could accommodate the high-profile trial of murder suspect Scott Peterson, provided that concerns over staffing and related issues can be resolved.

``It's not a good time for us, but that's probably true for everyone else,'' said Presiding Judge Thomas Hansen, explaining that Santa Clara County officials are not eager to host the Peterson trial but would try to cooperate ``within reason.''

The judge said his concerns include security, availability of courtroom space and a shortage of qualified court reporters that is already creating problems with the county's current docket of trials. But he said it might be possible to resolve those issues. For example, he said court reporters might be provided by Stanislaus County, where the Peterson case originated.

A judge in Modesto will select a host county on Jan. 20, after reviewing a report from state court officials. Judge Al Girolami has already granted a defense request to move the case out of Stanislaus County, where Peterson is accused of killing his wife, Laci.

Girolami indicated last week that his first choice is Santa Clara County, followed by San Mateo and Alameda counties.

The case has sparked an international media frenzy .......

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Another way Geragos get press coverage

Geragos has a full plate as defense attorney in Jackson, Peterson cases

By Matt Krasnowski

COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
January 12, 2004

Associated Press

Mark Geragos takes on the high-profile and very troublesome cases – including Michael Jackson's child molestation case and Scott Peterson's wife-killing case.

With two of the most compelling criminal cases in the nation occupying his workload, Mark Geragos may have trouble keeping his conspiracies straight.

On some days, the Los Angeles-based criminal defense lawyer has found himself in Modesto defending Scott Peterson, accused of killing his wife and unborn son. Other days, Geragos is at the side of one of the most recognizable figures in the world, Michael Jackson. The lawyer and the entertainer are expected in Santa Maria on Friday for Jackson's arraignment on child-molestation charges.

Geragos, 46, is obviously the lawyer of the moment in California, if not the nation. Some say he has become as common a household name as O.J. Simpson defender Johnnie Cochran.

But even Cochran never handled two stratospherically high-profile cases at the same time.

Friends and foes say Geragos is perfectly suited for the tasks. He's at ease in front of cameras, has sharp courtroom instincts, can be simultaneously charming and tough, and has a way with a phrase that the media – but not every jury – laps up.

"What you see in Mark is a very confident, almost cocky attorney.........

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The next scheduled court date in the case of People v. Scott Lee Peterson is Wednesday, January 14, 2004. Requests for Courtroom Seating will be accepted beginning at 8:00 am (PST) on Monday, January 12, 2004.

DETAILS BELOW:

Date: **January 14, 2004 - 8:30 am (Wednesday) Location: Department 7 (Judge Marie Silveira) Event: Hearing on the 995 PC Motion Duration: Anticipated to be less than (1) one day Seating: Media must submit a request on January 14 Cameras/Pool in Courtroom: Pool camera/audio anticipated.

** Originally scheduled for January 7th - date was continued on 12/18/03 by stipulation of the parties.

Superior Court, Stanislaus County January 9, 2004

Penal Code Section 190.3 Notice Regarding Aggravating Evidence

[runningbear]

State's Motion to Conduct Venue Survey

Doc

[runningbear]

On my last post, there are more doc pages to this 1st one.... hiccup! .... ;o)

[runningbear]

Court TV's Beth Karas discusses the judge's decision to move Scott Peterson's murder trial

Court TV's Beth Karas discusses the judge's decision to move Scott Peterson's murder trial

Mon Jan 12, 5:35 PM ET Add Crimes and Trials - Court TV to My Yahoo!

(Court TV) —

Court TV Host Beth Karas is joining us from the Modesto courthouse where the judge in the Scott Peterson case today said that he would change the venue of the trial. A hearing is about to start on possible other locations...but I'll let Beth tell you all about that when she gets here in a few moments...

Court TV Host Beth Karas is here! Welcome, Beth!

Beth Karas: Hey, everybody!

Question from kiara: Welcome Beth.....so why did prosecution bother to try and fight change of venue?

Beth Karas: Because it's a hardship generally to try a case somewhere else and for the prosecution to bring witnesses and relocate themselves. It's just not as convenient as being home. Besides, half the legal eagles around the courthouse thought the judge would keep it in Modesto.

Question from gm: How much do you think the change in venue will delay the trial?

Beth Karas: Weeks, maybe a month or two. It really depends on the jurisdiction that is selected and whether that court can begin a trial soon.

Question from Saladhead: Beth, is there a possibility the Peterson case will move out of California?

Beth Karas: No, it can't. It's a state case and has to stay within California. Right now the lawyers are coming up with suggested venues, and the judge already said no to Los Angeles.

Question from Gmarie: Why no to LA, do you suppose?

Beth Karas: The judge wants the lawyers to come up with .....

[Jackie-O]

But I have been silent for a while on this issue...

Yes you have girl! But there comes a time when your patience runs out. Hopefully this will be the end of it!! (ya think?)

[Devil_Anse]

I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut w/o friends like you to confide in. Thank you!

[Canadian Outrage]

It won't be moved to LA Julie. I believe the Judge said it must be within driving distance of Modesto. I agree with you that the Judge should, at the very least, DISCIPLINE, Geragos for this outrageous act. I saw the "professor" on the stand stating that his methods were ABSOLUTELY accurate.!! And yes, he should be a laughing stock. Nobody will convince me that these students didn't know that their assignment was in regard to the Peterson trial.

[Canadian Outrage]

#109 - Good Point!

[Cloe]

I am wondering if this is just the first of many sleasy things the defense will try to get away with during this trial. I sure hope the Judge does something to put them in their place.

[Canadian Outrage]

No kidding Cloe, I have been expecting some "desperate" acts by the Defense since just before the change of venue hearing. I think they ARE desperate and there is NOTHING too LOW for Geragos OR his client OR his client's parents and family. The entire group of them are a pack of liars, and bottom feeders.