Jackson hearing centers on keeping many aspects of case under wraps

Friday, June 25, 2004

SANTA MARIA, California (AP) -- The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case has scheduled a pretrial hearing Friday -- a proceeding likely to focus on whether many aspects of the case will be kept from public view.

The majority of 13 items on Friday's calendar concern the secrecy surrounding the case and the sealing of almost all documents.

Prosecutors and Jackson's new defense lawyer have consistently sought to keep documents under seal. A coalition of news media has opposed those efforts, asking for portions of a grand jury transcript, a grand jury indictment and at least 47 sealed search warrants to be made public.

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