I noticed Courtney is tweeting, James and Todd to name a few are not tweeting at this time.
https://twitter.com/CFranciscoWCPO
#PikeCoMurderTrial will begin in an hour or so. Right now, a judge is hearing media arguments about the right to show Jake Wagner's testimony. Will update you soon.
Press attorney said one thing that is an issue is the media access to the room. If someone opts out of being recorded, it is hard for media to get inside the room because the court locks room 15 minutes before. So, that affects our ability to get inside to write the courtroom.
Judge points out that has not be strictly enforced. Judge said he just wanted to keep distractions to a minimum.
Judge said he has allowed people to leave the room whenever but reentry is restricted.
Judge: the difficulty of not having any rules at all, is if we allow one to do it, we have to allow all to do it, and then we have too much activity.
Judge doesn't have a problem allowing the press to come inside the courtroom a little later if needed.
Side note: Jake Wagner just arrived to the courthouse. Jury is supposed to be here by 10:00.
Press attorney telling judge there's great interest in this trial, and there's great interest in certain witness testimony. The press wouldn't object to every witness who opts out of being recorded. It would object to witnesses like a co-defendant like Jake and Angela Wagner.
Judge said he feels like he needs to follow the court of appeals decision which says if the media objects to any opt outs, the court should hold a hearing on it.
Defense: It would be an unnecessary burden on a witness to have to explain why they object to being recording. The reasons why could be irrelevant.
Judge: I have to assume the court of appeals feels there's a hearing requirement in there somewhere, and that's their interpretation of it, and that trumps my interpretation.
Jake Wagner's council now telling judge they have had no contact with Jake since Monday when he began testifying. However, we have no reason to think he's changed his mind about objecting to being recorded.
Jake's council said before a hearing on his opt out, they'd like to talk to him first to make sure he still does not want to be recorded. He said Jake likely feels his safety in prison could be jeopardized since he's testifying against family.
In the media room, we are discussing the fact that for years, we've publicized his plea deal agreement to cooperate with the state. We've post his photos every day he arrives to court, we post his quotes all day long. If people care, they know... regardless of if we record.
Of course, we have no say... but just a little insider info for you.
