He did not say whether he would be wearing a white powdered wig when the preliminary hearing for accused child killer Craig Michael Wood is held April 24 in Springfield, but Greene County Circuit Court Judge Mark Powell has let it be known that the 21st Century will not be welcome in his courtroom.
The case over which Judge Powell is presiding is one of the most horrendous to hit southwest Missouri in years. Those in this area remembered how raw the feelings were following the brutal rape and murder of 10-year-old Rowan Ford of Stella.
The same holds true for the abduction and murder of Hailey Owens of Springfield, one which also involves rape, according to documents filed in Greene County Circuit Court.
Wood’s lawyer wanted no cameras in the courtroom for the preliminary hearing, but Judge Powell overruled that request. As is the case with many judges, Powell will allow one television camera to serve as a pool for all TV stations interested in the footage and one still camera to be used as a pool for the print media.
Pictures, however, are all that the judge will allow. The TV cameraman will not be allowed to record any audio of the hearing and no other audio recording will be permitted.
Despite the intense public interest in the event, Judge Powell will not permit anything about the hearing to be revealed until after the final witness is heard.
In a ruling issued Monday, Powell said, “The media is not allowed to e-mail, blog, tweet, text, or post anything about the preliminary hearing from inside the courtroom while the hearing is taking place."
That probably means that Powell will have eagle-eyed bailiffs at the ready making sure that no one is doing anything except writing down what is happening in his courtroom. He may even provide the Big Chief tablets and number two pencils.
If and when this case comes to trial, it is going to a year or two down the road. Sure, people will remember the coverage, but considering how much has been reported on the case, that is already guaranteed.
The best way to make sure the public knows how justice is being handled in our courtrooms it to keep the process open.
All Judge Powell is doing is reminding us what we already knew- he is the boss.
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