Prescott eNews

View from the second floor of the courthouse.

Update: 12:49- Ray has chosen not to post bond, and will remain in the custody of the Yavapai County Jail until his hearing next week.

Update from Camp Verde Court and Jail Facilities - 12:20 pm:

The judge ruled in favor of the motion - supported by both attorneys - that no cameras would be allowed. 

Audio recordings were allowed, however.

Ray was quiet during the entire proceeding, not saying much. Tom Kelly from Prescott represented Ray along with an attorney from CA - last name Li, didn't catch the first name. Scott Young was the attorney from Yavapai County.

Although the attorneys agreed on the subject of cameras, they didn't agree regarding bail. Young wanted the bail amount to remain, Kelly termed it "unconscionable"  stating that Ray had no criminal record, and voluntarily surrendered to the Sheriff's Officers when it was time. 

The judge declined to make any reductions at this time, but did agree to an expedited hearing, one week from tomorrow. 

Ray, through his attorney Tom Kelly, pled not guilty and requested a jury trial, although the judge indicated that this was not the time for a plea, this was only the initial appearance designed to satisfy the requirements of the law.

Ray's demeanor was calm and alert, although he was clearly uncomfortable with the situation he was in. Both hands and feet were shackled, he wore the orange prison suit, and plastic orange flipflops over his white socks. 

We'll upload the audio of the proceeding at a later time.

Update 10:22 am: The Judicial Assistant just came out and said that according to Rule 122 of the AZ Supreme Court, which states that if any party in the proceeding protests the use of cameras in the courtroom, they must hold an immediate hearing on that issue before the other hearing can begin. The Judicial Assistant handed out copies of the Rules of the Supreme Court for our benefit. Section i of Rule 122 does allow personal recorders, however. 

Several reasons are given to disallow the cameras, however, section (c) states, "The judge may limit or prohibit electronic or still photographic coverage only after making specific, on the record findings that there is a likelihood of harm arising from one or more of the above factors that outweighs the benefit to the public of camera coverage."

We're told we'll be allowed in the courtroom at 10 minutes before 11 am. We were not told which party protested the use of cameras.

James Arthur Ray will have a hearing today at 11:00 am at the Camp Verde Court facility. Information here is rather sketchy; nobody - not the security personnel, the clerk's office, the jail staff or anyone else official - knew what was happening at first.

Word is that he already had a telephonic video hearing this morning at 8, but will have another hearing at 11:00. We're not sure what happened at the 8 am meeting, but at 8:45 the Court Reporter came and spoke to all the media people waiting outside the courtroom door, and provided the information about the second hearing.

Nicole Ullerich from Inside Edition reported that she got a quick glimpse of Ray as he was walking from the jail to the courthouse. According to Ullerich, several of the media representatives shouted out questions. She asked how he felt about the manslaughter charges, but Ray declined to answer any questions from media at this time. 

So, for now, we're simply waiting to find out what happens next and if Judge Warren R. Darrow will allow cameras in the courtroom.

We'll keep you updated if anything happens.

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