LA COUNTY SHERIFF BACA BLATANTLY TRIES TO INFLUENCE PHIL SPECTOR JURY

Opinion, by Blogonaut

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who is up for re-election next year and plans to run, has issued statements that could blatantly effect murder defendant and renowned music producer Phillip Spector's right to receive a fair trial.

In the context of an interview ostensibly sought by Baca on the subject of jail overcrowding, Baca told the press that “wealthy people in general” should not be afforded bail pending trial (BEFORE THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY OR INNOCENT) on murder charges. Then, SINGLING OUT Phillip Spector, Baca said:

“The violent offenders, they should all stay in jail on a pretrial status And not be given the ability to roam around because they've got money," Baca said, singling out record producer Phil Spector who is free on $1 million bail while his murder retrial takes place. "He's one of the most dangerous guys that had never been caught fooling around with guns. ... Phil Spector should have no bail."

This is an outrageous attempt by Sheriff Baca to interfere with the Spector jury and certainly puts the trial judge’s prior gag order—directed SOLELY at Phillip Spector’s wife—into perspective as the clear and convincing evidence of bias that the order plainly appeared to be.

The fact that the same trial judge has not similarly enjoined public officials aligned with law enforcement from speaking out in a manner calculated to prejudice the Spector jury speaks volumes about the lack of fairness in this case.


See: LA sheriff may free 4,000 inmates due to budget

UPDATE:

According to blogger Sprocket, Sheriff Baca’s prejudicial press statements about Phillip Spector were brought to the attention of the trial court during yesterday’s session and Judge Fidler refused to impose a gag order on the Sheriff, stating: "I don't have any authority over Sheriff Baca. [...] (He's a separate entity.) I have no authority over (the) sheriff." Interesting response, since Judge Fidler imposed a gag order on Phillip Spector’s wife Rachel Spector for talking to the press during the first trial. I guess the Court feels that a man’s wife is not a “separate entity”.