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The transcript of the live chat with Prime Time Justice host Terry Moran on Janaury 10, 1995.

OnlineHost:
OnlineHost:    *** You are in "Court TV Chat Room". ***
OnlineHost:
BABS1994:    that you, Terry?
CourtTV1:    Babs- Terry will be here in a minute
BABS1994:    not ditching us like last time, is he?
CourtTV1:    Babs Terry is here now
BABS1994:    ready to answer a question now, or are you waiting for the pack?
CourtTV1:    fire away
BABS1994:    What did you think of David Dobbs?  You seemed to be amused at his
antics?
CourtTV1:    Amused, sure. Also troubled. He's got the awesome power of the
state behind him, yet he  insists on pulling stunts. I didn't think it was appropriate.
BABS1994:    so what did you think of that verdict?  many were surprised, I
think
CourtTV1:    Probably should be careful here. But what the heck--if I were on
the jury, I'd vote not
BABS1994:    this is a terrible time for a chat, by the way--everyone is at
work.
CourtTV1:    not guilty. Not that I think he was innocent, but the state didn't
prove its case.
BABS1994:    Anchors are not supposed to give personal opinions on the cases?
CourtTV1:    Absolutely not. We explain. You want hollering about the guilt of
Menendez bros, turn to  Geraldo.
BABS1994:    well, but since you brought them up--what do you think of your
Brothers Menendez?
CourtTV1:    They have a unique problem. They have become a metaphor, and
whatever one thinks you shouldn't be convicted for being on the wrong side of a
metaphor.
BABS1994:    Hmmm. How eloquent.  What is your background?  Not a lawyer?
CourtTV1:    No. I'm a reporter. Used to be that was both a less lofty and more
trustworthy title.
BABS1994:    Legal reporting?  you seem well versed in the law.  How did you end
up on CTV?
BABS1994:    and then tell us where you get all those ties
CourtTV1:    I covered the Supreme Court in D.C. for a great little newspaper
called Legal Times.
CourtTV1:    And when I was covering Clarence Thomas, CTV needed a reporter, and
I got lucky.
LINNIX:    I was amazed that the jury convicted s. lucas, how did you feel about
that verdict?
CourtTV1:    As I said, I wouldn't have convicted.
BABS1994:    You are content at CTV or are you getting itchy to move onward and
upward?
LINNIX:    I think you said after the verdict that the one juror that was
holding out seemed to have a good
CourtTV1:    Love it. As for a move, where? Network TV is a giant bureaucracy,
and I'm not sure about it.
LINNIX:    reason for changing her mind. I really thought she still thought it
was an accident.
BABS1994:    Was Menendez a pain to report on? and do you like reporting in the
field or PTJ better?
CourtTV1:    What that juror said was that one more key aspect of Lucas's story
didn't add up, and
CourtTV1:    therefore, he must be guilty.
CourtTV1:    As for Menendez, covering it was like leaving planet Earth. It was
like being stuck on some intergalactic cruise ship with the same people month after month.
Fun, but weird.
BABS1994:    who is covering Menendez part deux? MJ Stevenson--is that her name?

CourtTV1:    Also, being on the road is a blast. A great way to see America.
Hell on the home life.
LINNIX:    Are you looking forward to the O.J. trial, or will that be another
cruise?
CourtTV1:    Mary Jane might. She covered it for a legal newspaper first time,
and she is very sharp.
CourtTV1:    As for OJ, huge news event--but is it a truly engrossing story? I'm
not sure.
BABS1994:    predictions of the outcome of Menendez or will you allow yourself
to do that?
CourtTV1:    Who knows? But as I said, they have become poster boys for what's
wrong with American juries, and it would take a lot of guts for jurors to do the same
thing this time.
LINNIX:    What about O.J. will you predict that?
BABS1994:    was the attitude in the Menendez courtroom that a hung jury was
coming last time?
CourtTV1:    People were betting on convictions on Lyle, hung on Eric. O.J. is
in trouble. Big time.
BABS1994:    really?  you think OJ's fame will not carry him through?
CourtTV1:    No.
BABS1994:    and what do you think of OJ writing this book now?  bad move?
CourtTV1:    I'm a First Amendment absolutist. I think he should have a perfect
right to speak his mind,
LINNIX:    Do you think they will let domestic violence in? I didn't think they
could, now they might?
CourtTV1:    even to make money from it. I'm against "Son of Sam" laws.
BABS1994:    that's because you are a journalist first
CourtTV1:    Some of the domestic violence stuff will come in, some not. For
example, if a cop or someone else heard OJ threaten Nicole--that's in. Second-hand stories of
slaps--nope.
BABS1994:    OK what about this Zion thing that keeps dragging on.  Opinions on
the Moores?
CourtTV1:    I like to think it's because I'm an American constitutionalist
first. The Supremes have
LINNIX:    I think the 4TH is real important, too. Judge Ito doesn't seem to
think so!
CourtTV1:    never passed on whether gagging crooks is legal.
CourtTV1:    The Fourth Amendment has virtually vanished from American law. It
is shocking,
BABS1994:    watch out!  you will have to define what is a crook
CourtTV1:    and reflects the high cost of anti-crime hysteria.
CourtTV1:    Crook meaning convicted felon.
BABS1994:    doesnt it seem juires have a hard time reaching a decision despite
anti-crime hysteria?
CourtTV1:    Most juries convict. It depends on the defendant. If the Menendez
bros. were black kids
CourtTV1:    they'd be serving time, wating for the man to drop the pill.
BABS1994:    so you believe it was the Brothers money or their looks or race?
BABS1994:    perhaps they just had good defense lawyers
CourtTV1:    They may very well have been telling the gospel truth. My point is
they got a better break
CourtTV1:    than other defendants might for irrelevant reasons.
BABS1994:    what do you think of Leslie Abramson?
CourtTV1:    Fierce, brilliant, insufferable.
BABS1994:    Charlie Gessler?
CourtTV1:    Not enough info.
LINNIX:    I agree that if you are poor or black you don't get justice.
BABS1994:    David Conn?
CourtTV1:    The cross of Lyle will be very different. Conn will control.
BABS1994:    Did you have an opportunity to talk to the Brothers when you were
covering Menendez 1?
BABS1994:    or weren't they talking?
CourtTV1:    Talked with both on occasion, off the record.
BABS1994:    anything interesting you can share?
LINNIX:    Why didn't they send the bloody glove from rockingham for DNA?
CourtTV1:    Lyle is cunning and naive at the same time; Erik has no core.
BABS1994:    what on earth does that mean--"has no core"?
CourtTV1:    As for the glove, maybe *too* bloody for testing. Dunno,
though--looks bad.
CourtTV1:    He is a hollow man, always performing. You ever met someone so fake
it's sad?
BABS1994:    fake like you didnt believe him or fake he is performing to be
liked?
LINNIX:    Looks bad for who? I think l.Kahn lied to the court to keep the
defense away from it.
CourtTV1:    Fake like he is performing because the real him is too frightened
and damaged to emerge.
BABS1994:    and Lyle is cunning in what way?
CourtTV1:    Linnix: Your impression is why it's bad. The state looks like it's
hiding.
CourtTV1:    Lyle's always turning things over and over in his mind, arguing,
pleading, re-crafting his
LINNIX:    I guess I don't understand why you think O.J. is in trouble "big
time" other than the fact he on trial
CourtTV1:    story, following your concerns, moving to alleviate them. A little
scary, 'cept he's dumb.
BABS1994:    Lyle is dumb?
CourtTV1:    On OJ: His blood is at the crime scene. His blood is at the crime
scene. His blood is...
CourtTV1:    On Lyle: Yeah, shrewd, but so naive that he gets caught in lies a
5-yr-old wouldn't tell.
BABS1994:    really?  like what kind of lies?
LINNIX:    Blood could have been there for 2 weeks! Police could have mixed up
swatches.
CourtTV1:    And rainwater could be beer. The shortest distance between these
two points--O.J.'s blood, the bodies of the victims--is, the state will argue powerfully, the
straight line of guilt.
CourtTV1:    See Lyle's letter to Traci Baker.
LINNIX:    Is there really samples of skin and blood from under the victim's
fingernails, or is that myth?
BABS1994:    well, that hasn't actually been demonstrated to be real--the Baker
letter, has it?
CourtTV1:    No confirmation on that one. Would be devastating, though, no?
CourtTV1:    As to the Baker letter--I saw it. Looks real to me. But that will
be challenged in court.
LINNIX:    It would be if it is O.J. but what if it isn't and they didn't bother
to test it?
BABS1994:    well if they had the Baker letter in the first trial, why didnt
they use it?
CourtTV1:    Absolutely right on OJ. What you're arguing is strong: The state
MUST prove this case with
CourtTV1:    care and completeness. And I expect there is still a surprise in
this one from the defense.
CourtTV1:    Baker letter did not come out til after the trial. Why do you think
Jill Lansing left?
BABS1994:    so the story about Jill wanting to spend time with her family is
not exactly true?
LINNIX:    As you can guess I don't want him to be guilty. Probably not to
objective, but it doesn't seem like
CourtTV1:    She was under strain. BUT, when Lyle's mistrial came down, she
vowed to stay.
LINNIX:    the LAPD is very objective either.
BABS1994:    but why would she now be coming back if the judge allows it if the
letter was a big issue?
CourtTV1:    LAPD is a disgrace in many ways. They may free OJ by bias and
incompetence, and that
CourtTV1:    would be fine with me. Furhman shouldn't be a dog-catcher, much
less a cop.
CourtTV1:    Judge will not allow her back last I heard.
LDYMACDUFF:    hi
CourtTV1:    yo
BABS1994:    you should write a book on this stuff, Terry--or would you get
sued?
LDYMACDUFF:    I have a question about Marcia Clark
CourtTV1:    I'm Menendezed out. Fire away on Marcia
LDYMACDUFF:    I keep hearing stories from ex LA cops and so forth that she
boozes a lot
LDYMACDUFF:    is that true?
LINNIX:    why do you think the public felt sorry for lyle and eric? My husband
is a real hard a-- and he feels
LDYMACDUFF:    I think she's doing great work
LINNIX:    sorry for them? go figure.
CourtTV1:    Have not heard that. I like her. Reminds me of what Lincoln said
when folks told him Grant
CourtTV1:    was drinking: Order a case of what he likes for all my generals.
LDYMACDUFF:    Amen!  Should send her a case
LDYMACDUFF:    I think she's going to nail him, do you think she'll get a
judgeship out of it?
CourtTV1:    Menendez crystallized the problem of abuse and later effects for
many people.
CNudelman:    Hi.  What're you chatting about?  Are you following the Zion case?
LDYMACDUFF:    was mad about Lucus verdict
CourtTV1:    Marcia Clark doesn't seem to have a judicial temperament to me.
LDYMACDUFF:    she strikes me as funny, and I think humor has a place on the
bench
CourtTV1:    But the kind of competitiveness she has doesn';t.
LINNIX:    she is abrasive, but smart,I don't  think she comes across as honest
when she talks about exculpatory.
LDYMACDUFF:    she seems to focus on the victim, too, instead of pandering to
defendeant
CNudelman:    Agree on Lucus.  Think that computer image bit really hurt him.
LDYMACDUFF:    what's wrong with being competitive?
CourtTV1:    That computer expert was an unfortunate witness, to say the least.
Cool cartoon, though.
LDYMACDUFF:    she's very good, do people say that about men?
CourtTV1:    As for Marcia on the bench: Judges don't win or lose. I covered
judicial nominations in the
LDYMACDUFF:    I think she'll win the case....
LDYMACDUFF:    yeah, I know judges don't win or lose, but they can keep things
from getting too intense
CourtTV1:    U.S. Senate, and you see a certain strong but *gentle* and
courteous demeanor in
CourtTV1:    people, and you say--that person should be a judge.
LDYMACDUFF:    come from long line of lawyers and judges, and most of them are
funny
LDYMACDUFF:    but understand what you mean about demeanor
CNudelman:    Come on.  It's CA.  They'd jump all over someone who killed a
coyote before OJ
CourtTV1:    That's funny. I have more confidence in the system, though.
LDYMACDUFF:    do you think she's too intense?
CNudelman:    You must not live here.  It's very weird,
LDYMACDUFF:    I think they're funny because of what they see
CourtTV1:    Not for me. What counts, however, is if she's got the evidence and
can marshal it well.
LDYMACDUFF:    seems to think on her feet well
CourtTV1:    I spent some time in CA. It is different. Vive la difference!
LDYMACDUFF:    guess if you see the things people do to one another, you have to
laugh or go nuts
LDYMACDUFF:    or kick judical butt
CNudelman:    Don't you think all the screwups with the forensics will hurt
their case?
LINNIX:    Will Ito keep putting up with her argueing, he seemed irritated
yesterday
LDYMACDUFF:    I think Ito is posturing
CourtTV1:    Alas, people do horrible things to each other in every state of the
union.
CNudelman:    You mean Judge "Ego"?
LDYMACDUFF:    LOL
CourtTV1:    As for Ito, he has to get a firmer grip on this case.
LDYMACDUFF:    what do you suggest, Terry?
CourtTV1:    Watch Judge Wilk in Zion. He brooks no sh--.
LDYMACDUFF:    in terms of grip
LDYMACDUFF:    have watched him, reminds me of my grandfather
LINNIX:    Maybe another interview for ito or perhaps a book?
CourtTV1:    You must have a nice grandfather.
CNudelman:    You can't put Wilk and Ito in the same catagory.
CourtTV1:    Ito's interview was a colossal mistake.
LDYMACDUFF:    got quite a talking to when I went to Iran instead of UVA law
school
CourtTV1:    Both Ito and Wilk are very bright, however.
LDYMACDUFF:    Ito is posturing, he has his 15 minutes and wants to stretch it
LINNIX:    The judge in Lucas had no control, he was a disgrace!!!!
CNudelman:    Ofcourse it was but he wants to be a "star"  It's a real problem
here.
LDYMACDUFF:    Lucas verdict made me sick
CourtTV1:    That guy--how many contempt citations did he threaten and then
rescind?
LDYMACDUFF:    big star is going to be Clark, I think
CourtTV1:    Agreed.
LDYMACDUFF:    suspect she'll clang when she walks into that courtrrom
LDYMACDUFF:    room, sorry
CourtTV1:    Iron lady ref?
LDYMACDUFF:    yeah - she'll play with the boys, all right
CNudelman:    I don't think Clark is going to cut it with a male/Afro jury.  Too
acidic--abrasive.
LDYMACDUFF:    is it coincidence that a woman is prosecuting OJ, given his
history?
CourtTV1:    That'd be a shame. What counts, once again, is evidence--and it has
no color.
LINNIX:    That could hurt her, people don't normally like iron "ladies".
LDYMACDUFF:    amen, Terry
LDYMACDUFF:    actually was thinking brass, but the what the heck
CourtTV1:    I truly believe people will put all the noise aside and listen to
the case.
LDYMACDUFF:    is domestic violence going to be allowed in?
CNudelman:    Your right. That's very idealistic, however; we both know that
juries are subjective.
CourtTV1:    Some domestic violence stuff will get in, some not. Toughest call
in case for Ito.
LDYMACDUFF:    well, she is pretty, and articulate, does that help, or does her
acid tongue undercut it
LINNIX:    Terry, how can you say that after the Lucas verdict? I haven't seen
anyone who would have convicted
LINNIX:    but the jury>
CourtTV1:    One more question here--gotta go.
LDYMACDUFF:    how to write Marcia Clark?
LDYMACDUFF:    when will u be back?  (2 questions, I know)
CourtTV1:    OK--Lucas: They were his peers. They didn't buy his story. They
didn't like the look of Bette's head. Guilty.
LINNIX:    Bye. Thanks
CourtTV1:    On Marcia: c/o D.A.'s office in LA. We can probably get you the
address. Soon, I hope.
CourtTV1:    It was fun. Thanks guys.
LDYMACDUFF:    thank you
CNudelman:    I don't agree.  I think they were all too calm--too bloodless.  It
was errie
LDYMACDUFF:    love watching you