Opinion ID: 774695
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: December 5, 2000 Hearing

Text: 16 On December 5, 2000, the District Court held a hearing originally scheduled to ensure that Scarfo found a replacement lawyer after Manno's October 27, 2000, disqualification. The hearing quickly re-focused on the Judge's reaction to reading the December 4, 2000, Inquirer article. The Judge stated, I'm barring anybody from talking to the press about the motion that I haven't seen and that I don't know anything about. He continued, Mr. Manno, you are under a specific obligation and injunction from this Court not to speak to the press about this case at all. Period. And if you have an objection to my motion, you have a right to go to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. If you want to do it, be my guest. 17 The Judge, apparently perturbed at not having seen or decided any motion papers before their substance appeared in the press, proceeded to flesh out the order. He stated: 18 The Court: No matter who you talk to, you tell them they're not to talk to the press about this case. Appx. 13. 19 The Court: After I decide whatever is going to be decided -- I don't know what it is -- the, of course, that is a different rule. Right now, we're not going to try this case in the Philadelphia Inquirer or the Atlantic City Journal or the Newark Star-Ledger or any other newspaper. Id. 20 Manno: Judge, I assume that your Honor will be so kind as to put into writing the injunction against me? 21 The Court: If you would like it. 22 Manno: I would appreciate if you would put that into writing. 23 The Court: It will be my pleasure. Id. at 17. 24 The Court: You're a citizen, but you're subject to this Court. You know, you can't make comments about a case that is pending in front of me at this point.... I don't want people to tell me I got a cutting-edge cyberspace, whatever, when I haven't seen a piece of paper that reflects anything about this case. When I get the motion and I decide the motion, if you want to speak, you're a citizen, you're entitled to speak. You're entitled to say the judge is wrong, right, praise me or damn me. Doesn't matter. Id. at 18. 25 The Court: I might be influenced by [an argument in the newspaper] if it was a good argument.... What I object to, so that you know, is extra-judicial comments about a matter which is not even pending before this Court yet. Id. at 19. 26 The Court: I'm not suggesting people can't look at the public records. They're entitled to [that]. I'm not sealing the record in this case. I'm merely saying until this Court has had an opportunity to see the motions, to see the response by the government and to hear oral argument, I don't want it commented upon. That's all. 27 Manno: I understand your order. Id. at 20-21.