by TChris

The judge in Michael Jackson’s criminal prosecution has responded to media requests for the release of an affidavit made in support of a search warrant application by sealing the documents.

The judge, Rodney S. Melville of Santa Barbara County Superior Court, said Friday that the documents contained "reports of statements of a minor about events of a sexual nature" and ordered them sealed indefinitely.

Judge Melville also said releasing the material as requested by the news media would "complicate the process of selecting an unbiased jury."

The judge criticized prosecution and defense attorneys for comments made earlier in the case. He singled out District Attorney Thomas Sneddon Jr.’s reference to Michael Jackson as “Wacko Jacko” during an appearance on Court TV, and also noted that Mark Geragos had stated on “Larry King Live” that the case against Michael Jackson was a “scam.”

Geragos’ remark seems simply to be a comment upon what he expected the evidence at trial to prove, while Sneddon engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional name calling. The court has since entered an order prohibiting the lawyers from discussing the case publicly.