ITO BARS THE MEDIA . . . FOR NOW

Judge Lance Ito today blocked the press from covering jury selection in the O.J. Simpson murder case, at least until prospective jurors are questioned about pre-trial publicity. Citing unprecedented press coverage, Ito said the press could return to his court on Wednesday once that line of juror questioning is over. Transcripts of the "closed" sessions will be released when a jury is impaneled. Attorneys for media organizations are studying the ruling before deciding whether to file an appeal, but a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union immediately called Ito's courtroom a "star chamber."