LOS ANGELES — With Mi chael Jackson’s mother, father and three siblings looking on, Dr. Conrad Murray began a slow process toward trial Monday with the appointment of a judge and the setting of another hearing to handle pending matters in his involuntary-manslaughter case.
Murray made two quick appearances in separate courtrooms.
First, Supervising Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza assigned the matter to another judge for all further proceedings. Then, spectators, media and fans followed Murray to a lower floor, where he appeared before Judge Michael Pastor.
Abiding by ethics requirements, Pastor disclosed he had written a recommendation for Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, the prosecutor in the case who has applied for a judgeship.
Pastor said they are not friends and he would not have a conflict in trying the case.
Pastor also said that 27 years ago, he was appointed to the bench by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, who is now California’s attorney general. Brown’s office is seeking to revoke Murray’s medical license pending trial.
“This will in no way affect my ability to be a fair and impartial judge in this case,” Pastor said.
Lawyers have 10 days to file a challenge against Pastor if they choose.
A large contingent of Jackson’s family members had been expected, but only five appeared. Jackson’s mother, Katherine; his father, Joe; and siblings Janet, Jermaine and Randy sat quietly in the spectator section and made no comments to the media.
Trina Saunders, a representative of the attorney general’s office, asked that the hearing regarding Murray’s medical license be held sooner than June 14, but the judge rejected her request and said all pending matters would be handled on that date.
Earlier, about 50 Jackson fans waved signs and chanted outside the courthouse.
The fans sang “We Are the World,” wore T-shirts emblazoned with Jackson’s picture and the slogan “Justice 4 Mi chael,” and carried placards demanding stronger charges against Murray.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
