The Jodi Arias re-trial is getting to be more and more interesting than during the trial period before murder suspect Jodi Arias was convicted October last year of killing ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander. This time, the controversy is attributed to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens when she ordered the people inside the court room to go out, except Alexander's family, so the defense's witness can be called in for the testimony.
"This was not an easy decision," said Judge Sherry Stephens, who expected media ire after they were told to head out the door along with others.
The decision of Judge Stephen to keep the Jodi Arias retrial media-free until the verdict was made was to let the defense witness take the stand without fear of being threatened or harassed afterwards. Media coverage will make known the identity of the witness to the public and haters. Arias's lawyers said media coverage drives their witnesses to back-out.
This was contested by a media law attorney who reminded Judge Stephens that the public can cite the right of First Amendment in following the Jodi Arias trial. The judge responded to this by saying Arias's right to fair trial outweighs the public's right to know.
"This is on the presumption that criminal trials are open to the public, open to the media, open to anyone who wants to attend," said the media law attorney. He added the "notion that they have secret trial going on [that] is troubling."
A new set of jury in the Jodi Arias retrial will decide whether Arias will be meted with death penalty, life imprisonment or 25 years.
An outpour of emotion by the victim's family were among the highlights of the Thursday retrial. They mentioned suffering from mental and emotional anguish due to nightmares, ulcers, and trauma caused by Travis Alexander's murder.
The Jodi Arias trial reached global attention due to the dramatic and graphic presentation of evidences between Jodi Arias and the victim Travis Alexander. This included sexual exchange of messages and photos that showed brutal murder of Alexander caused by jealous rage. Arias admitted to the killing of Alexander as self-defense.
Judge Stephen's decision to stretch leeway in favor of the defense is to ensure that justice is truly being exercised during the trial before arriving at a crucial decision for Jodi Arias.
Trial will resume next Monday.
