D.A. Told to Unseal Jackson’s Records

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ordered county prosecutors to give Michael Jackson’s lawyers all court records kept secret since the entertainer’s arrest Nov. 20 on child molestation charges.

Melville, amending an earlier decision, directed Dist. Atty. Tom Sneddon to give defense lawyer Mark Geragos all records still under seal.

The decision was seen as a victory for media organizations that have argued that the blanket sealing of all records violates the U.S. Constitution and state court rules.

Sneddon has opposed unsealing search and arrest warrants and affidavits on grounds that the media request was premature because the defense had not seen them.

But Tuesday’s ruling will permit Geragos to review them by Friday’s arraignment in Santa Maria, thus limiting any courtroom debate to the actual merits of the issue.

Media attorneys have argued that the public has a right to know as much about the case as possible and that simply sealing everything violates state court rules.

Search and arrest warrants typically are made public 10 days after they are issued, and the affidavits that accompany them routinely detail virtually all the key prosecution evidence.

In the Jackson case, those records were ordered sealed for 45 days two days before Jackson’s arrest. The court later extended that period until “at a minimum, the arraignment in this matter.”

Law enforcement officials, who were preparing for Friday’s early morning arraignment, said they had no idea how many Jackson fans or spectators would turn out. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Maria Police Department and the FBI will be on full alert.

Jackson supporters Monday announced plans for a “caravan of love” to Santa Maria. In addition, top Jackson advisors Monday held a breakfast meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel to discuss his finances.

The meeting, coming amid reports of increased involvement in Jackson’s affairs by the Nation of Islam, included many of Jackson’s longtime advisors. It also included Leonard Muhammad, a high-ranking Nation of Islam official. Jackson’s lawyers have said that the black separatist group was involved in Jackson’s security.

Jackson, 45, is charged with seven felony counts of child molestation and two counts of giving a minor an intoxicant to help seduce him. Jackson, who is free on $3-million bail, has maintained his innocence.