Will she win an appeal?
Transcript errors and omissions prolong Jodi Arias appeal
By Paul Davenport | Associated Press | October 21, 2017PHOENIX (AP) — Jodi Arias’ case remains a headache for Arizona’s court system long after her murder trial had spectators lining up for seats, attorneys squabbling in court and two different juries deadlocking on whether she deserved the death penalty.
Problems compiling trial transcripts have delayed Arias’ appeal of her first-degree murder conviction by about a year.
Lawyers use trial transcripts to identify and document grounds for appeals. In Arias’ case, the state Court of Appeals had to repeatedly prod some of the trial’s 22 court reporters to finish transcripts, and at one point even ordered that dozens of transcripts be destroyed and redone because of errors and omissions.
The reporter responsible for most of the transcripts told the court his production was hindered by a computer malfunction, his own cancer treatment and the amount of work involved in Arias’ case and others. Other reporters cited workload issues.
It wasn’t until April 24, nearly two years after the appeals process formally started, that the Court of Appeals declared the record complete, with nearly 25,000 pages of transcripts, over 950 exhibits and 21 written motions for dismissal or mistrial.
More than three months later, the court finally set deadlines in 2018 for the defense and prosecution to file legal briefs. A three-judge panel then will consider the appeal, perhaps after hearing oral arguments.
Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Samuel Thumma referred questions to Court Clerk Amy Wood. She said the delays in Arias’ appellate case were unusual and a concern.
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