Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
com/
http://www.modbee.com/reports/peterson/prelim/
The judge has declined to rule on the gag order request until a later time
Prosecutors have sought a gag order preventing the parties' attorneys from discussing the
Peterson case. The defense has opposed such an order. Neither party's position is a
surprise. After all, what good will it do Scott Peterson to have retained a media-savvy
lawyer like Mark Geragos if he isn't allowed to be, well, media savvy?
The prosecution says they have sought a "limited" gag order, but it's not clear exactly
what the limits would be. In any event, the judge has refused to put a lid on the leaks just
yet -- reserving his ruling on this issue for an undisclosed future date.
He was probably wise to do so. Gag orders in cases such as these tend to be
unenforceable anyway, and only underline the court's ineffectuality in this respect.
That is not -- as the prosecution has suggested -- because defense attorneys act in bad
faith. Rather, it's because the huge press appetite for information in notorious cases like
this one -- with tabloids paying big money for scoops -- creates strong incentives for
anyone who's seen the evidence to leak. And how many people, at different levels of
authority, likely had access to this autopsy report before it was sealed? It's a losing battle.
http://www.finddru.com/
Dru Sjodin disappeared on Nov 22nd, 2003 from Grand Forks
North Dakota
GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (CNN) -- Authorities investigating the kidnapping of 22-
year-old University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin said they will meet early Monday
to chart their next move in the case.
David Dusek, an attorney for Alphonso Rodriguez Jr., who has been arrested in
connection with the abduction of Sjodin, said he will meet again with his client Monday
and expects to decide by Tuesday whether to challenge the unsealing of the probable cause
affidavit for Rodriguez' arrest.
The affidavit is believed to contain an explanation of some of the evidence against the
convicted sex offender which authorities have said is "very strong."
Although police say they are confident Rodriguez, 50, kidnapped Sjodin, Grand Forks
Police Capt. Mike Kirby told CNN: "You don't want to put blinders on."
According to Kirby, authorities will continue to investigate the more than 1,400 leads that
have come in to police since Sjodin disappeared.
Sjodin was last seen November 22 when she left her job at a Victoria's Secret
Rodriguez appeared Thursday at a bond hearing and chose not to attempt to post a $5
million bond for felony kidnapping. He is being held in isolation at the Grand Forks
County Correctional Center.
Police are offering $140,000 for information leading to the student's recovery.
08/15/2005
Dru's Law
Her disappearance made headlines across the nation. Two years ago
North Dakota college student Dru Sjodin's body was found in a ravine in
Minnesota. A violent sex offender who just got out of prison was charged
with her murder. Now a South Dakota senator is co-sponsoring Dru's Law,
to create a national sex-offender database to track people who commit
such crimes, and to let the public know if their children are in danger.
Local law officers say this would give South Dakota the tools it needs to
get a statewide list of offenders online.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel says, "This way they're always going
to be on the hot seat. People are going to be looking out for them,
watching things they do."
Dru's Law would make sure sex offenders had no place to hide.
The law would also allow for civil commitments of violent sex offenders,
meaning once they're let out of prison, they could be committed to
psychiatric hospitals.