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Weekly media planning calls begin August 13, 2008 and repeat every Wednesday through August:

Wednesdays 10 a.m. PDT
218-486-7200 Enter Bridge Number: 716XXX

Many have contacted the court in the past few days inquiring about media credentials. In case you missed the deadline, we will accept credential requests until Thursday, (Aug. 14, 2008). Forms can be obtained at http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/media.html or you can find them attached. A photo must be sent ASAP to info@clarkcountycourts.us.

The following media have already requested credentials (a complete list is attached):

• ABC NewsRadio
• AP
• CBS Radio News
• Clear Channel Radio
• CNN Radio
• Fox News
• In Session
• KDWN
• KVWB
• KLAS
• KNX
• KTNV
• KVVU
• LA Times
• Las Vegas Sun
• NBC News - Today
• Reuters News Pictures
• Sky News
• Spiegel Online
• Miami Herald
• The Press Association (UK)
• Tru TV
• Turner Broadcasting
• UPI
• Vanity Fair
• Vegas Buzz News

We have not received multiple applications from Fox News (crew and talent), CNN (crew and talent), ABC news (crew and talent) or NBC News (crew and talent). If you feel you have already applied and don’t see your name on the attached list, please contact the Court Information Office.
The court is working with Clark County Information Technology to facilitate phone service. The county will require a connection fee and an application must be approved prior to contacting Embarq for phone service. We will have that form approved this week. If you require phone, ISDN, or DSL service, please contact me with your specific needs.

Parking for media will be faciliated in the same manner as in prior hearings. A daily parking fee does apply. NOTE: If you have not paid a past due balance, the county will not allow you to park in the lot.

All of these issues will be addressed during the weekly media planning call scheduled for:

Wednesdays 10 a.m. PDT
218-486-7200 Enter Bridge Number: 716XXX

Attorneys for O.J. Simpson, Charles Ehrlich and Clarence Stewart argued today before District Court Judge Jackie Glass that charges of kidnapping and robbery should be dismissed, while prosecutors outlined why the charges should remain.

In the end, Judge Glass ruled there is enough evidence to present the facts of the alleged kidnapping and robbery to a jury. Therefore, the judge denied Mr. Simpson’s writ requesting that the charges of kidnapping and robbery be dismissed.

In addition, Judge Glass determined that charges levied against Defendants Ehrlich and Stewart will remain.

The defendants face a total of 12 counts including conspiracy, kidnapping and robbery. The charges detail an alleged kidnapping and robbery Sept. 13, 2007 of two memorablia dealers at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas.

Regarding Ehrlich and Stewart’s motions to sever the trial and provide the defendants a seperate trial date, Judge Glass determined that concerns about prejudice and antagonistic defenses do not outweigh the need for the alleged co-conspirators to be tried together and she denied the motions.

Also today the judge found that the case requires more time to prepare evidence and provide discovery to the defendants requiring the trial to be continued to September 8, 2008.

“It was a quick setting from the date of the preliminary hearing and I anticipated we would be ready to go. I told you then that I would not continue this again,” said Judge Glass. However, the judge added that the need to provide more time to process evidence required the change. The judge then set status check dates leading up to the September trial date to ensure all discovery is provided and to prevent the court from having to continue the trial again. The first status check was scheduled for April 10, 2008.

The judge set aside six weeks for the trial.

A motion hearing has been scheduled for Friday (March 7) at 10 a.m. in District Court Department 5 (Courtroom 15A). A television/audio feed has been established and a multbox has been placed in the Clark County parking lot on the corner of Bonneville and Casino Center Avenues. Media interviews must be conducted outside of the Regional Justice Center on the courthouse steps next to the Clark Avenue entrance. No cameras, other than authorized pool cameras, will be allowed to enter the courtroom.

District Court Judge Jackie Glass will hear arguments on 16 motions filed by prosecutors and defense lawyers. The hearing will be broadcast by truTV (CourtTV), which is serving as the television pool representative. None of the defendants are expected to appear in court.

Contacts:

Pool Coordinator, (212) 692-7875.

Prior to the April 1, 2008 Calendar Call in State v. Cashmore, et. al. (Simpson ), 07-C-237890-C, all members of the media must be credentialed by the Clark County Courts Information Office. All persons representing the media in any capacity must visibly display their photo credential at all times when working in and outside the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89155. Media credentials will remain in effect for the duration of the proceedings.

Applications for credentialing must be received prior to March 20, 2008. Read more…

Motions to continue the trial date in the State v. Simpson trial were denied today by Judge Jackie Glass. Defendants Charles Ehrlich and Clarence Stewart argued that more time was needed to prepare for the trial. Judge Glass told attorneys for Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Stewart that they have had months to be able to prepare for the case. “This is, despite what you’ve told me, not a complicated case,” said Judge Glass.

The trial date remains set April 7, 2008 in District Court Department 5.

A complete set of documents in case 07-C-237890-C State v. Cashmore (Simpson), through 2/26/08, can be found at this link.

Documents have been filed with the Court Clerk in State v. Simpson, et. al., by defendants Charles Ehrlich, Clarence Stewart and Orenthal James Simpson challenging the charges in the case. In addition, Mr. Ehrlich seeks to be tried separately from his co-defendants. Ehrlich also seeks to prevent a witness from testifying against him. Additionally, the Clark County District Attorney has filed four documents in the case.

Read more…

Stating it was “mind boggling to this court” that Mr. Orenthal James Simpson had violated the terms of his bail, District Court Judge Jackie Glass increased Simpson’s bail to $250,000, required him to post a 15-percent premium totaling $37,500, and admonished the defendant to follow the terms of his bail or he would spend the time waiting for his April 7 , 2008 trial in jail.

Judge Glass placed further restrictions on Mr. Simpson, requiring him to not contact any witness or co-defendant by any means and not to leave the continental United States for travel. “No contact. That means no phone messages, no emails, no letters, no nothing,” said Glass.

Simpson’s bail was revoked by his bail bondsman last Friday (Jan. 11). The Clark County District Attorney then filed a motion to formally revoke the defendant’s bail pending the trial. Judge Glass refused to revoke the bail or place Simpson on house arrest. She told Mr. Simpson that, “There are conditions. There are rules. If anything like this happens in the future, you will be locked up in the Clark County Detention Center.”

The Clark County District Attorney has filed a motion to revoke the bail set for O.J. Simpson. This hearing will take place Wednesday (Jan. 16) at 9 a.m. in courtroom 15A, District Court Department 5, in the Regional Justice Center (RJC). Media seeking to attend this hearing should meet at the south entrance of the RJC by 8 a.m. to check in and obtain a seat.

Media parking has been set aside in the Clark County Courts Public Parking lot located on the corner of Casino Center and Bonneville Avenues.

Media planning coverage of the motion hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. January 16, 2008 in District Court Department 5 should plan on setting up media live/satellite trucks in the Regional Justice Center Public Parking lot located near the corner of Casino Center and Bonneville Avenues. This location will be where the mult-box will be located for live coverage from the courtroom. The courtroom is located on the 15th floor of the Regional Justice Center. The pool for this hearing will be arranged through truTV (CourtTV) and a microwave feed is being considered for sending the signal out of the building down to the parking lot. Further details will be arranged on Monday when the court meets with truTV’s producer.

Media are asked to set up on the sidewalk opposite the south entrance of the Regional Justice Center along Clark Avenue. This is the location used in the past hearings in this case. The court will arrange to close Clark Ave. in front of the courthouse, if needed, prior to the hearing. Also, the Court Information Office will coordinate cable runs prior to the hearing.

Questions regarding media coverage should be sent to input [at] clarkcountycourts.us.