Warrants to stay sealed in Peterson case
Appeals court holds release of warrants for more discussion
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Scott Peterson
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Laci Peterson's family seeks to ban cameras in the courtroom in the upcoming murder trial. CNN's Frank Buckley reports. (June 27)
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(CNN) -- A state appeals court in Fresno, California, blocked the unsealing of search warrants Friday in the Scott Peterson murder trial.
The warrants were issued during the investigation into the disappearance of Peterson's wife, Laci.
Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled June 12 that information in the warrants authorizing searches of the couple's home and other locations be made public on July 8, a victory for a news media consortium seeking access to the documents.
The prosecution and defense in the Peterson case oppose the release of the warrants.
The appeals court panel gave all parties in the case seven days to prepare additional arguments, which it will consider before making its final decision.
Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the death of his wife and their unborn son. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The victims' bodies were found in April on the shores of San Francisco Bay near the marina where Peterson said he had launched his boat on a fishing trip Christmas Eve, the day his wife disappeared. The area is about 80 miles from the Peterson home in Modesto, California.
