Downey’s Release for Work Barred

Responding to a request by Sheriff Sherman Block, a state appellate court has blocked a judge’s order allowing actor Robert Downey Jr. to leave jail temporarily for post-production work at Paramount Studios.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal set a March 16 hearing at which Downey’s attorney could argue why the actor should be allowed to work on movie projects during his jail time.

But because Downey is scheduled to be released from custody soon, his attorney, Ira Reiner, said he will not fight the decision.

“There’s no need in arguing,” the lawyer said. “He’s out of jail on March 29.”

Sheriff’s officials--who argued that the field trips were too disruptive to jail operations--praised the decision.

“The Sheriff’s Department . . . appreciates the court’s consideration,” officials said in a statement.

Despite the sheriff’s objections, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira had granted an order Tuesday allowing the actor to be released for two days to work on the film “In Dreams.”

Before Downey was sentenced to jail in December, the judge had agreed to let him work on preexisting film projects.

As a result, Mira ordered that Downey be released from the Men’s Central Jail on Wednesday, accompanied by two sheriff’s deputies and a sergeant, to go to Paramount. Downey was first allowed out Jan. 23, then again Feb. 17, to work on various projects.

He was set to be released again today, but the appeals court ruling halts those plans. “Fortunately, they got almost everything they needed” on Wednesday, Reiner said.

Downey has been in custody since Dec. 13, when Mira jailed him for violating his probation on a 1996 narcotics conviction by using drugs or alcohol.