SANTA MARIA, Calif., July 10 (UPI) -- The judge in Michael Jackson's California child-molestation case has gone after lawyers on both sides in an apparent attempt to gain control of proceedings.
Rodney Melville, the Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge hearing the Jackson case, blasted Jackson's lawyers Friday for "inconsiderate" tardiness, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
The judge also told lead prosecutor Tom Sneddon he would have to cancel an important family function to appear as a witness during an upcoming pretrial hearing.
Finally, Melville also warned he would hold Jackson in contempt if the pop star issued more public statements concerning the case.
At the heart of Friday's scoldings was an objection from the defense to a search by police at the Beverly Hills office of Bradley Miller, a private investigator who defense lawyers said had been retained by Mark Geragos, Jackson's former lawyer.
In court papers filed Thursday, Jackson's lawyers said officers violated their client's right to counsel by sledge hammering their way into Miller's office, where they seized computers and videotapes Nov. 19.
They argued the raid was a breach of attorney-client privilege because Miller was on the defense team, even if he wasn't a lawyer.
