L.A. County prosecutor resigns after discussing Michael Jackson case on 'Larry King Live'

A veteran prosecutor resigned from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office this week after her supervisors learned that she had discussed the Michael Jackson case while appearing last week as a panelist on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Robin Sax Katzenstein, who was on leave from the district attorney's sex crimes division, appeared as a legal analyst on King's Friday broadcast and said there would be problems bringing a potential criminal case.

"Well, I think there are difficulties in this case. You have a causation here. First of all, there are so many doctors in Michael Jackson's life, so many different people," Katzenstein said. "Who do you blame? Which doctor, which prescription, which drug was the lethal drug? Was it the combination of the drugs? Was it the reaction of different types of drugs?"

Asked what a criminal case would potentially look like, Katzenstein said "this would be an involuntary manslaughter type of case. And that's what [Police Chief William] Bratton would be looking at."

Rules prohibit prosecutors from discussing cases that could come before the district attorney, and the probe into Jackson's death, while not yet a criminal investigation, could potentially become one that would be handled by the office.

Katzenstein said in a phone interview that it was wrong to discuss the case, but she believed the investigation was being spearheaded by federal and state authorities, allowing her to voice her opinion.

"The concern of the district attorney's office is that whenever I speak I’m speaking on behalf of the district attorney's office," Katzenstein said. "Should I have known better, probably. I shouldn't have said anything. They told me they weren't happy."

Katzenstein, who has appeared as a legal analyst on radio and cable news talk shows, including Larry King's and Nancy Grace's programs, said she made the choice to resign because it was time to transition to a media career. She also had been on leave the last four months promoting her book, "Predators & Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids Safe.”

A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office said they would not comment on a personnel matter.

"It's a good decision,"  Katzenstein said. "I wanted to go and it was time and I am leaving on good terms."

-- Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Tony]

sacrificed her career for a few minutes of fame. Typical DA personality: self absorbed types who think they always ride in on the white horse.

[Joe]

I hope her TV career tanks out too, big mouth!

[Pablo]

Sounds like she goofed big time. Thankfully, though, she knows it and seems willing to accept responsibility for her goof. If only our elected officials would follow her lead ...

[Michael C]

This is starting to sound like a bad episode of Law & Order.

[Dex]

I find it amazing at how flippant this DA's attitude is. It sounds like she decided to quit, and this was her opportunity to market herself. Shameful. As an attorney she should know to keep her mouth shut about a case her office could potentially become involved with. It's too bad the DA's office didn't fire her.

[Ronbo]

Only an attorney could call being forced to quit after an ethical lapse on national television "leaving on good terms."

[B Clemenb]

Uh, she resigned because she screwed up, and that is considered "leaving on good terms"?

[Valerie from Oregon]

I wish her continued success.

[Black Barbie]

Too bad she couldn't resist being on tv; she just handed potential defendants a winning defense strategy.

[Marjorie]

Well, well, well. Looks like they have done everything now to mess up this case. Was it a deliberate slip up, me don't think so. There is something mighty fishy here.

[SALMA]

can not beleve how many pple would stoop so low just to get a few minutes of fame , jepodising their career,

wat happened to confidentality, gues that went out the window.

[Joan Dore]

Isn't this the same woman who charged music industry bigwig Jeremy Geffen last year? Clearly her judgment is impaired.

[The Rest of the Story]

If you want to really hear what happened regarding Robin Sax resigning in her own words, tune into a radio interview last night with Robin Sax on The Dana Pretzer Show.

http://tinyurl.com/nf5amu

What is sad is that any defense atty can go on a TV show and spout off at the mouth; however, a prosecutor has their arms tied behind their back when trying to present to the audience the facts of a case.

Robin has always been a fantastic victims rights advocate and will continue to do so.

[carrie]

Hello, this information should be obvious to any attorney with half a brain. He took lots of meds and had lots of docs. Obvious. Who do you blame? Ultimately- Michael. She didn't share rocket science. She was not forced to resign. She chose to. That is her being accountable and good terms.

[NIKKIPARKS]

THE FOCUS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE PROSECUTORS IN THE JACKSON CHILD MOLESTATION TRIAL. THOSE PROSECUTORS NOT ONLY HAD THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY THEY INITIATED UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS AND TRUMPED UP CHARGES.

[JEAN]

DID EVERY KNOW POOR MJ IS STILL ON ICE AND NO ONE CARES ABOUT HIM IF I WANTED TO GET IN MY SON,S HOUSE I WOULD. NO ONE WOULD STOP ME I DONT UNDER STAND WHY THAY COULDNT GET IN TO HELP HIM THAY SIAD WE TRYED TO THATS BILL AND DID YOU KNOW mj,PAYS HIS MOM AND DAD ANLOUNCE EVERY MONTH OMG NOW WHAT ARE THAY ALL GOING TO DO FOR MONEY THIS MAKES ME SICK WHY CANT YOU,S ALL JUST LIVE HIM RNP DO YOU,S ALL HAVE TO BE THAT MENE TO HIM .

[JEAN]

PLEASE LET MJ, REST MY GOG HES STILL SITTING IN A MORGE ON ICE THAS SO WRONG STOP THIS CRAP AND THAT KID IS NOT HIS SONE HE WAS HELING HIM GRT STARTED IN HIS OWN WOURLD OS SINGING AND DANCEING AND FOR EVERY ONE JUST LET IT GO MY HEART IS HUERTING FOR MJ JUST BEING IN THAT HOUSE ALL A LONE AND NO ONE TO HELP ME THAT MUSE OF BEEN HARD ON HIM AND HIS CHILDREN I HOPE THAY GET THIS DR. THAT KILLED HIM. YES ITS TRUE HE WAS KILLED BY HIS DR. THAY SAID IT ON CNN THE COPS.

[CaliMJFan]

I have to say I'm really glad to hear from Robin Sax. She has a bulldog-type along and candid 'call it like she sees it' approach which is refreshing. Her interview that evening on LKL as well as the one last evening are very welcomed.

Couple her with Mark Geragos and even Trent ____ (dern, forgot his last name.. sorry Trent)... and wow. Now THERE is a panel I'd listen to.

Good luck to Robin with her new career. Be sure to let us know where you'll be so we can watch!

A new Robin fan.

[susan deziel]

This DA is WELL known as a shameless self promoter. My husband is a defense attorney and they laugh about her media aspirations. She might get some sound bites but her ego is overshadowing her judgement-----her TV appearances aren't going to pay the bills. Besides did you see her on Larry King? She had better stick with the courtroom because she is terrible on camera----stilted and awkward-----YIKES!!!!