Michael Jackson defense gets copy of warrant
Lawyers weighing media requests for documents
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A judge ordered the Santa Barbara County district attorney Tuesday to give Michael Jackson's defense lawyers a copy of the warrant allowing a search of the pop icon's home, as well as documents related to that warrant.
Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said Jackson's lawyers should get the search warrant, affidavit and transcripts of tape recordings related to the search at Jackson's Neverland ranch November 18.
The defense wanted to see the documents so it could respond to a request by lawyers representing several news media outlets, including CNN, that the search warrant be unsealed.
Last month, Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Clifford Anderson granted a request by both sides to seal documents related to the search warrant "until the arraignment in this matter."
Jackson, 45, will be arraigned Friday on seven counts of child molestation involving a boy under 14 and two counts of administering "an intoxicating agent" to a minor in the same case.
The singer maintains his innocence.
Melville has not yet ruled on a motion for a gag order filed January 6 by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon.
Sneddon cited intense media coverage as a reason to grant the request. He wants the judge to order the singer, his attorneys, the prosecution, investigators and nearly everyone connected to the case to refrain from speaking to the media.
