By: Seth Hettena, Associated Press Writer (AP) An appeals court intervened late Thursday to loosen some of the restrictions a judge placed on reporters covering the grand jury hearing evidence in the Michael Jackson case.
A panel of the state's 2nd District Court of Appeals issued a stay on three segments of a court order that had barred journalists from talking to prospective or final grand jurors, and from photographing them. The appeals court asked for more briefings on the issue.
Presiding Superior Court Judge Clifford Anderson III had earlier modified his order, but the appeals court changed the wording to ease the restrictions further.
The ruling appeared to indicate that reporters could now photograph grand jurors outside the courthouse.
Attorney Theodore Boutros, who is representing media outlets including The Associated Press, said he was pleased the appeals court had requested further briefing on the issue.
"This stay order further relaxes some of the restrictions on journalists covering the grand jury proceedings," he said.
Boutros said Anderson's original order was the most restrictive he had ever seen.
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