20 Witnesses:
March 7, 2005. 995 Motion denied. After Judge Janice C. Croft read the many pages of testimony of the twenty witnesses during the October 2004 Preliminary Hearing before Judge Teri Schwartz, Judge Croft ruled that there was sufficient evidence to hold Goodwin to answer the charges, , affirming the Oct. 13, 2004 ruling by Judge Schwartz who ordered Goodwin to stand trial for the murders of Mickey and Trudy Thompson, with special circumstances of lying in wait and multiple murders. He is to be held without bail.
March 14, 2005. Date changed to March 17. March 17, 2005. (Happy St. Patrick’s Day.) Judge Teri Schwartz denied another defense motion to dismiss the double homicide case against Michael F. Goodwin. The defense made claims without reference to any supporting evidence. The failure to do so leads one to believe that this is simply another unfounded bold assertion by the defendant at casting a poor light on law enforcement officials. Next court date, April 27, 2005.
April 27, 2005. This latest motion to recuse the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office was continued to May 16 and will again be heard in Pasadena Superior Court, Dept. E, 5th floor.
May 16, 2005. Judge Teri Schwartz denied the defense motion to dismiss, saying the motion did not rise to the level of misconduct or intent. Next court date is June 2, for another motion to recuse the L. A. D. A. office.
June 2, 2005: Judge Teri Schwartz denied a defense motion to recuse the L.A. Prosecutors or the L.A.D.A. Office. The Judge also denied a defense request to suppress evidence. On June 13, a Special Master is scheduled to be appointed to evaluate all evidence to make certain no attorney client privileged evidence is utilized. Plus, on that date the court will review progress and the court is scheduled to proceed with motions July 14. The Judge said the case will be tried in L. A. instead of Pasadena.
June 13, 2005: Lead Deputy Public Defender Elena Saris, did not appear in Court due to her Mother’s death. She did not notify the D.D.A., thereby Alan Jackson did appear and was told Saris would not return to work for possibly a month.
July 14, 2005: Scheduled next court date for August 17, 2005 regarding the appointment of a Special Master to evaluate all evidence making certain no defense, attorney client privileged evidence would or could be utilized by the prosecution. Nothing else took place.
August 17, 2005: A Special Master, George Bird, was appointed. The next court date is scheduled for September 20, 2005, Pasadena Superior Court.
September 20, 2005: Pretrial hearing moved to November 17, 2005, Dept. E Pasadena Superior Court, on 8:30 a.m. calendar. A series of defense hearings tentatively scheduled to begin, November 28, 2005, Dept. E, Pasadena on a defense request to recuse the L.A.D.A. Office from prosecuting Goodwin.
October 14, 2005: The November 17, 2005 date, was changed by the defense to November 16, 2005 for an update by the Special Master.
November 16, 2005: The Special Master, George Bird, reported to the Judge on film in closed session. Judge Schwartz, in open court, ordered the Special Master to separate any possible attorney client privileged documents or any out of scope documents that was seized under a search warrant. A hearing on that matter and to recuse the L.A.D.A.’s Office is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2006 in the same courtroom. A motion for Goodwin’s bail will be heard on Nov. 30, 2005, in Judge Schwartz’s same courtroom.
Nov. 30, 2005: For the second time in an L.A. County Court, Goodwin was again denied bail.
Dec. 8, no action, next court date: Jan. 10, 2006; changed to Jan. 17, 2006 for another defense recusal motion.
Jan. 17, 2006: In Judge Schwartz’s courtroom. More defense motions. Next court date: Feb. 6, 2006.
PREVIOUS ACTION IN ORANGE COUNTY: Fourth Appellate Court, Division 3 (925 N. Spurgeon, Santa Ana, CA) dismissed case due to jurisdiction issues, L.A. Filed Case and arrested Goodwin, June 2004.
Orange County Trial Judge: Superior Court Judge Francisco P. Briseno, Orange County, Main Central Court Building, 700 Civic Center West, Santa Ana. 11th floor, Department C 45
Note: The L. A. D. A. had never turned the case down.
Delays:
Information on Court Action Started In Orange County:
(Note: There were additional court dates of which we were not aware, until after the fact.)
Orange County District Attorney Office, Santa Ana, CA, Case # 01CF3294;
O. C. Deputy District Attorney, David Brent, Prosecutor.
O. C. Deputy District Attorney, James Mulgrew, Writs & Appeal.
4th Appellate District, Div. 3, Case Number: G031285.
December 13, 2001; Michael Frank Goodwin Arrested for Thompson murders.