Prosecutors say uniformed police at trial could sway jury

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 12:57 pm, Sunday, May 7, 2017


PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal prosecutors and an attorney representing a fired Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of punching a drunken man outside a football stadium are sparring over whether other officers should be allowed to wear uniforms while attending the trial.

Defense attorney Tina Miller accused prosecutors late Friday of trying "to hijack" former sergeant Stephen Matakovich's "constitutional right to a fair trial," The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2qONaqW ) reported.

Prosecutors had filed a motion Thursday seeking to bar uniforms from the courtroom, saying their presence could intimidate or influence the jury. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Gilson asked the judge to establish a rule that spectators during the trial should not wear "a uniform, badge and/or any other items that would identify them as law enforcement officers to the casual observer."

 
Miller called it "disingenuous" to suggest excluding uniformed spectators. She held out the possibility that the government could ask witnesses to forgo uniforms while in court or on the witness stand.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Prosecutors-defense-spar-over-officers-in-11127598.php

[cstanleytech]

1. I agree it could tilt the jury and the judge needs to simply order them not to be in uniform in

the judges court unless they are scheduled to be called to the witness stand that day in which case I dont think they should be in the court room at all until they are called to the stand.

[Historic NY]

2. As Spectators yes, it would imply they are on duty....