A Joke in Court

The case of Michael Jackson is a sensitive one, but still it seems that everyone is enjoying a little joking in court. Michael himself has told reporters that he doesn’t mind a bit of joking in court. Even Judge Melville has allowed humor in his courtroom.

Pay attention to some examples of this humor:

On Wednesday, prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss asked flight attendant Cynthia Ann Bell whether she had seen Michael Jackson hugging the complainant on the airplane. When Cynthia Ann Bell answered no, the story was put to her:

Gordon Auchincloss: “How would you describe the hugging?”
Cynthia Ann Bell: “I can show you.”

Then the prosecutor turned to the judge and said, “Do you allow the witness to come closer?”

In another place, the prosecutor asked Bell whether “serving the pilots” was part of her job. Bell looked a bit upset, and made it clear to everyone that what the prosecutor meant was whether she also served food to them or not.

When Bell explained how, during a flight, the complainant’s doctor fell asleep after drinking a whole can of alcohol, and only after the complainant poured mashed potatoes on him did he wake up, the audience burst into laughter.

One of Bell’s colleagues seemed a little annoyed when he made a comment about Michael’s liking for eating Kentucky Fried Chicken for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and that comment made the audience laugh. He then turned to the jury and said, “Well, that’s something good.”

When Thomas Mesero, the defense attorney, asked Jamie Masada about one of the previous witnesses and his strong interest in being a comedian, Masada replied, “I think you’re funnier than him.”

Judge Melville said he liked Jamie Masada’s jokes:

“Between defense attorneys and comedians, I like comedians more.” He then addressed Mesero: “You don’t have to answer.”

At the end of one of the judge’s sessions, Judge Melville announced that he would end court 15 minutes earlier than usual because hours of listening to boring testimony about his fingerprinting techniques had tired him out. He said, “I can’t go on anymore.”

This line sparked sympathy and agreement from the jury members.

Ann Bremner, a retired prosecutor, does not agree much with courtroom jokes:

“These jokes make people feel like they’re a family with one another, and that can be dangerous. Because you don’t convict your own family.”

Source: AP / CNN