Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis was ordered Friday (May 30) to testify in R. Kelly’s child pornography trial, according to Eurweb.com.
DeRogatis’ lawyers argued that he was protected reporter’s privilege and the 1st Amendment, but this was rejected by the court, as Judge Vincent Gaughan ruled that he is not protected because he was the first person known to have possessed the video.
Guaghan will not allow the defense to ask him about his sources or subpoena any reporting notes he took before he gave the tape to a law-enforcement official.
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What the defense can ask him about, however, is what Gaughan with the cassette he received between the time he received it and when he handed it over to the policed, a decision that The Chicago Sun-Times will appeal.
Friday was a busy day in the court room, as attorney Mike Roman was kicked out of the court room for trying to give his CD to R. Kelly in the courtroom where his trial is taking place.
Roman approached R. Kelly while he was sitting alone at the defense table, and the prosecutors and defenders were meeting privately in the judge’s chambers.
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Roman, a local criminal-defense lawyer who also fronts his Latin rock band, Mike Roman and the Tellstars, offered Kelly a free copy of his CD Cha Cha Time.
R. Kelly responded, saying “No, thank you. I’m not allowed to take anything.” As Roman Persisted, Kelly responded by saying, “I’m not allowed to talk to anyone,” referring to the gag order imposed on him by the judge.
Other attorney’s eventually noticed the conversation, and called for security. Roman was briefly detained, after which Judge Gaughan ordered officers to escort him from the building.
