OnlineHost:  Copyright 1995 Court TV; licensed to America Online, Inc.

OnlineHost: Your Emcee for this event is Jill LE (AOLiveMC3)

AOLiveMC3:  Hi everyone! This is Steve Johnson Executive Producer for Court TV. Steve, ready for some questions?

Question:  Do you miss the OJ Simpson trial?

CourtTV:  Like a hole in the head. Come on, ten months is enough for anyone. But, ask the question again when Gregg gets here.

Question:  What did you find to be the most interesting trial of the year?

CourtTV:  Confessions - O.J.

AOLiveMC3:  Hi Gregg, glad you could make it, ready?

Question:  Tell us a little about your new show "Inside America's Courts"?

CourtTV:  Five days a week, Mon. through Fri. Its a summary of day's events in trials across America, one-half hour each day.

Question:  I believe in NY they have started a separate court - strictly for business cases. North Carolina is considering the same. In view of this do you feel that Court TV will devote more time, or even a second channel to this type of case?

CourtTV:  Possibly, but we're more interested in doing "regional Court TV's." 

Question:  Did you object to cameras in the O.J. courtroom?

CourtTV:  No. I object to the way Judge Ito handled the lawyers...allowing them to run wild in the courtroom like children, undisciplined.

Question:  What happened in the DiPaolo case today? When is the verdict due?

CourtTV:  No verdict yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if the sides settled, pending a decision.

Question:  I would love to hear your opinions on the Mark Crotts trial, he was a high school classmate of mine.

CourtTV:  I think this is one of the "thinnest" cases of circumstantial evidence. Tough for pros.

Question:  Gregg, do you think Ito had it in for Kristen M. because she "told on" Rosa Lopez to the DA's office about Rosa's flattery of Kristen or was it something else that prompted him to kick her out of the courtroom?

CourtTV:  I think one of the jurors "had it in" for Kris; and the Judge had no courage to make an inquiry or limit the discipline. I admit he has no obligation to do either.

Question:  In your opinion, did the law enforcement officers botch the O.J. trail?

CourtTV:  They were sloppy, and at times, incompetent. But I doubt they altered the evidence.

Question:  Greg: The commentators are all practicing attorneys. Why from time to time don't you bring in as commentators court reporters, Video/Demonstrative evidence professionals or jury consultants when applicable to a given trial situation?

CourtTV:  We have used jury consultants, non-lawyer experts on international issues. We don't do enough of that, and I think we intend to broaden our use of commentators. We should.

Question:  Do you think Court TV shows the way justice is truly served in the US today?

CourtTV:  More often, we show "rich justice". Better lawyers often get better results, and it's usually a function of money. It's not right. I hope we're exposing that.

Question:  What do you think about Marcia Clark's view on TV coverage in the court room?

CourtTV:  What's her latest view?

Question:  What is the status of the Menendez trial?

CourtTV:  Slow. Erik's still crying.

Question:  Do the judges and lawyers like having TV's in the court room or do they feel it is a hindrance?

CourtTV:  We survey judges after we cover their trials. 97-percent tell us the camera had no affect on the judicial process. They feel it helps the public better understand the system.

Question:  When and where did the presumption of innocence begin?

CourtTV:  Old English Common law, I believe. It evolved.

Question:  Is it California that is one of the states that is looking into a "cross the board" jury reformation? What do you think of it?

CourtTV:  In addition to Gov. Wilson, Quentin Kopp (sp) is pushing jury reform. I'd like to see it overhauled. Lawyers don't search for fair and impartial jurors, but biased and unfair ones.

Question:  What was the verdict in the case recently when a family sued a university hospital because their son who was an M.D., died as a result of a suicide.

CourtTV:  Settled out of court on first day of trial. Money not disclosed.

Question:  Can you get a camera in any court room?

CourtTV:  No. Normally, it's in the discretion of the trial judge. Not allowed in federal criminal cases. I think they used newsreel cameras in the Lindbergh case half a century ago.

Question:  Is there any movement to open up the federal court system to cameras? If President Clinton and the Senate have a federal court showdown on the enforcement of the Senate's subpoena, will you try to cover it?

CourtTV:  Yes on cam in federal courts. It'll be reconsidered this next year.

Question:  Do you feel that court cases covered on Court TV are chosen for their legal relevance, or their sensationalism?

CourtTV:  5-percent prominence; 95-percent on how interesting the issues, law and lawyers.

Question:  Why is it that judges believe that they can make law, i.e. case law? Isn't case law only binding on the litigants?

CourtTV:  Every day, judges are required to craft new law. As society evolves, so must the law.

Question:  In addition to your work for Court TV, are you an anchor for ABC Radio? Were you formerly with KGO in SF and did you attend Hastings Law School?  Yours and Court TV's coverage of the OJ Simpson trial was excellent and well balanced.

CourtTV:  Thanks.  I did graduate from Hastings (along with Darden and Hodgman)...but the Greg Jarrett on ABC radio is different. He's the good looking one.

Question:  Do you think that the Exclusionary Rule should be abolished in criminal proceedings?

CourtTV:  Absolutely NOT. It's the only device which keeps law enforcement in check.

Question:  Do you know of any cases where an appellate court has reversed a trial court judge's decision NOT to allow cameras in the courtroom?

CourtTV:  Not that I'm aware of. I doubt we've appealed any ourselves.

Question:  If the convicted, in some cases, cannot receive money for books, during and after the trial, why can the lawyers who lost the case can?  i.e., O.J.

CourtTV:  Good point. Because, as the argument goes, the criminal should not profit from his or her crime. It's not a crime to lose a case, but in the Simpson trial...  oh well.

Question:  Tell me about Clinton's atty-client privilege.

CourtTV:  Reminds me of Nixon. We know how that one turned out. Stay tuned.

Question:  How can I get my cable system (in Kalamazoo, MI) to add Court TV when they just say there's no more channel capacity?

CourtTV:  Keep pressuring them. My pal, Wayne, here will give them a call.

Question:  How does Court TV choose lawyer commentators and are the lawyer anchors in active practice, or do you consider yourself a journalist first, lawyer second?

CourtTV:  None of the current anchors are still practicing. Normally, we pull commentators from the New York region, though I am pushing to expand beyond. We do sometimes, but not enough I'm afraid. We look for people with specialties in area of trial.

Question:  Please tell us what you think about the constitutionality of attempts to regulate speech on the Internet.

CourtTV:  My initial impression is always: free speech is free -- no limits.

AOLiveMC3:  We have time for one more question folks.

Question:  Does or will Court TV ever carry trials from outside the US?

CourtTV:  We're doing one (a hearing, at least) right now: World Court hearing on use of Nuclear Weapons. We've covered trials in El Salvador, former Soviet Union, and another hearing at the World court. Many more to come. Look for International Court TV. Thanks folks.

AOLiveMC3:  Thanks Gregg for a delightful and informative time. Audience, your questions were great! All god things must come to an end, and we've run out of time for this event.

CourtTV:  Best of luck to Kato. He'll need it.

OnlineHost:  Copyright 1995 Court TV; licensed to America Online, Inc.