Judge says Leno can tell Jackson jokes

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on March 11th, 2005

At a hearing today, Judge Rodney Melville clarified his gag order as it applies to Tonight host Jay Leno:

Responding to a request by Leno’s attorney, Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville clarified that the gag order would not prevent the comic from making jokes about Jackson in his monologues.

Leno, who may be called to testify about a phone call with Jackson’s accuser, has been having other celebrities tell Jackson jokes on his show since being subpoenaed. Media attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. argued for the clarification on grounds Leno’s First Amendment rights were violated.

The judge said the gag order barred Leno from talking about the specific areas on which he may testify, but it wouldn’t prevent him or anyone else covered by the gag order from commenting generally about Jackson.

He said he would not even try to make Leno stop telling jokes that assume Jackson is guilty.

“I am not attempting to prevent anybody from making a living in the normal way that they make their living,” he said.

The judge also joked: “I’d like him to tell good jokes … but I guess I can’t control that.”

Can I get an ouch?!

Read the rest here.

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