Spector's Former Lawyer May Be Held in Contempt

Sara Caplan, a former lawyer for Phil Spector, will be held in contempt of court if she refuses to testify about whether she saw a defense expert mishandle material that could be evidence in the music producer's murder trial, the judge ruled this morning. The decision carries criminal penalties, but the contempt ruling was immediately stayed until June 22 to allow Caplan time to appeal to a higher court. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler also gave the parties until Monday at 9 a.m. to work out a compromise.

Fidler said it was the first time in his 25 years on the bench that he has had to punish an attorney with contempt. The jurist was clearly sorrowful that the dispute over Caplan's testimony led to his decision.

"It goes without saying that nobody wants to be here today," Fidler said as he recited his ruling from the bench. "Nobody has any personal animus against Miss Caplan. "I admire her for taking the stance she is taking; I don't agree with it," Fidler said, adding later that as a judge he had no choice. "You often have to do things you don't like." "I see no reason why Miss Caplan should not testify," said Fidler, who was a defense attorney for 10 years. "There is no other person who can testify to what she saw."

Details here from the Los Angeles Times.