Jackson Lawyers Want DA Off the Case

Attorneys for Michael Jackson filed a sealed motion asking Santa Maria Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to remove the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office from his child molestation case. Jackson's lawyers have long claimed that District Attorney Tom Sneddon has a personal vendetta against Jackson.

The motion to remove the DA from the case were among several filed Monday under court seal. Jackson's lead attorney Robert Sanger told the media that the seal was necessary because "the content of the motion includes reference to details in under-seal material including discovery materials, grand jury transcripts, investigative reports, exhibits and identities of witnesses."

Although motions to remove a district attorney from a case are common, they rarely succeed, court observers noted. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to child molestation, false imprisonment, conspiracy and administering an intoxicating agent. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 31.

See AP report: Jackson Lawyers Move to Oust DA From Case

Background:
The Michael Jackson Case
False Imprisonment: The Michael Jackson Case
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