Judge: Jurors will not be sequestered in Conrad Murray trial
Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 1:55PM 
"Jurors want to do the right thing," Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor told lawyers today in Los Angeles.
That's why he ruled that those who serve in the case of Dr. Conrad Murray will not be sequestered during the trial, reports AP. Jury selection is scheduled to begin in the Jackson case on Sept. 8, with opening statements slated for Sept. 27.
Pastor said he was confident that jurors would follow his instructions to avoid exposure to publicity, and he rebuffed a defense argument that he rescind a decision to televise the trial. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff argued that television coverage would feed an army of commentators, as it did in the Casey Anthony trial. He called the commentary "a problem."
"Is the problem you're referring to the exercise of the First Amendment?" asked the judge. He added, "I decline, at this point, to amend my ruling. The First Amendment is one of our most cherished principles and the right to comment is part of that.
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