Judge denies video, Arpaio denies interviews during Jodi Arias death penalty retrial
Sep 22, 2014, 7:20 AM | Updated: 1:29 pm
PHOENIX — A judge has denied a request for video coverage during the Jodi Arias death penalty retrial.
In Judge Sherry Stephen’s ruling, released Monday, video will only be allowed after the verdict.
The ruling was released Monday ahead of Arias’ return to court for a hearing. The penalty phase retrial is scheduled to begin Sept. 29.
Stephens had taken a motion for less restrictive camera coverage into consideration a week ago.
A lone camera will be allowed inside the courtroom and tweeting will be allowed. Stephens had previously said she would not permit video to be broadcast until after the verdict.
A media lawyer had argued for 30 minutes of broadcast coverage at the end of each day of the penalty retrial.
In court documents, it was noted:
The Court is mindful of its obligation to allow public and media access to the trial. That
access should not include live broadcast of the trial prior to a verdict for the reasons addressed in
previous sealed proceedings. The public and media may attend the penalty phase trial each day.
The media will be permitted to videotape the trial each day using their own equipment. The
videotaped recordings may be played after a verdict has been reached. During the trial, Court
policy allows the media to “tweet” from the courtroom. A still camera has been authorized to be
in the courtroom during the trial. At the conclusion of the trial, the Court’s FTR recordings will
be available to the public following a public record request and payment of required fees. In the
event there are insufficient seats in the courtroom, Maricopa County Superior Court
Administration has authorized an overflow room for those who wish to view the trial.
The only visuals allowed on a daily basis will be still photography.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced Monday his department would not grant any media interview requests with Arias.
Arias was convicted of the first-degree murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander. He was killed in his Mesa home in 2008. Arias was found guilty in May 2013, on the jury’s fourth day of deliberation but the jury couldn’t reach a decision on sentencing.
