Judge rebuffs media again in Michael Jackson case

A California judge has rejected the latest bid by reporters for access to the Michael Jackson case, refusing - at least for now - to make public much of the child molestation indictment against the pop star for fear of prejudicing potential jurors.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said he would keep secret the evidence spelled out against Jackson in the indictment, at least until he decides whether to unseal grand jury transcripts.

Grand jury transcripts and criminal indictments are typically public documents in California but the judge and prosecutors in the Jackson case have taken extraordinary steps to keep the evidence against the entertainer under wraps.

"It has been a consistent concern of the court that, in the extraordinary, high-publicity environment of this proceeding, the integrity of the jury pool is threatened if extensive disclosure of evidence that may or may not be admissible at trial takes place before the jury is selected," Melville wrote in a three-page ruling made public late on Thursday.

Melville has released a redacted version of the indictment that lists only the charges against him and not the specific accusations or "overt acts."

"We strongly believe that the full text of indictment should be released immediately," media attorney Ted Boutrous said. "The court has indicated that it will revisit this issue and we intend to argue vigorously that it should release the indictment."

Jackson, who is scheduled to stand trial in September, is charged in a 10-count indictment with lewd acts on a boy under the age of 14 as well as child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment.

The 45-year-old entertainer has pleaded innocent and is free on $3 million bail. Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau has vowed that Jackson will be "vindicated" at trial.