People don't back down, continuance granted, but Bullock trial set for March 2

Judge: John Feeney
Courtroom 1
Bullock's attorney : Kaleb Cockrum
Prosecutors: Andrew Issac and Stacey Eads
DA Investigator: John Burke
Fr. Eric's family's lawyer: Kathleen Bryson

Judge Feeney did grant the defense motion to continue the jury trial for Bullock which was scheduled for January 26. Mr. Issac who is prosecuting this case with Ms. Eads vigorously objected to Mr. Cockrum's date of March 20 or further delays. "Unless good cause is shown, we need more specifics than I need until March 20." Mr. Issac said that nothing he said in today's hearing was to be be construed as a personal criticism of Mr. Cockrum.

The jury trial is set for March 2. Trial Confirmation is February 18 at 2 p.m. in Courtroom 1.

Before his case was called, Bullock sat quietly in the front row, looked around the courtroom, glanced briefly at media and prosecution team and then looked at the floor until Mr. Cockrum briefly chatted with him before his case was called.

Mr. Cockrum said he was requesting the continuance because he had trials until February 26 and was waiting for a report for a defense expert. He suggested March 20 as a new trial date.

"I don't object to the continuance, I don't want it to be an appellate issue," said Mr. Issac. Referring to Ms. Bryson, who was present and sitting in the courtroom, Mr. Issac continued, "The family wants it on record that their position is a strong no regarding this continuance. For them, it cannot happen soon enough. " He then went on to say that the People don't want the case to be put off until March 20.

"The document Mr. Cockrum is waiting for would have been discovery that was due 30 days before the scheduled trial date of January 26 which would have been December 27, 2014. Mr. Cockrum is appropriately witholding the report but he had funding for the expert for a while."

Mr. Issac requested the March 2 trial date. He also requested the trial confirmation date and brought up that dates to be scheduled for motions in limine. "Jury questionnaires and selection will be an issue in this case," Mr. Issac said. Judge Feeney said that he was not sure who the trial judge would be so dates for motions would have to wait to be scheduled.

Mr. Cockrum said that while he got funding for an expert, he had not heard back from him and that he had another investigator interviewing witnesses in Southern Humboldt.

Mr. Issac responded that both sides needed to have discovery completed by January 26 and that includes who the defense expert would be. To which Mr. Cockrum said, "Mr. Bullock deserves a defense and I'm working on that." Bullock nodded his head, in agreement. Then Mr. Cockrum said that if the defense expert he has been trying to obtain does not work out, he would need more time.

"We will oppose that," Mr. Isaac firmly stated.

Will Houston from the Times-Standard was the only other reporter to attend the hearing.