Ito Returns Simpson Trial to Longer Hours on Most Days

After less than two weeks of shortened court hours in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Judge Lance A. Ito decided Friday to go back to a full schedule on most days because sequestered jurors have had too much idle time.

“We’re not getting enough hours in with the jury,” said Deirdre Robertson, Ito’s clerk, in explaining the latest schedule change. “We’re just trying to get in a little more jury time.”

Under the schedule that will go into effect Tuesday, court will be in session from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. On Fridays, court will run from 9 a.m. till noon.

Under the previous schedule--which lawyers in the case had requested because of their heavy workloads--court had ended at 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and at noon Fridays.