Caplan held in contempt

In a dramatic courtroom confrontation, Spector’s former lawyer, Sara Caplan, broke down in tears today as she refused to testify before the jury against her former client. “I respectfully cannot answer your question,” Caplan told the prosecutor, Alan Jackson. Fidler then directed her to answer. “Respectfully, your honor, I cannot,” Caplan responded. “I have great respect for this court, for the Constitution of the United States and the State of California, and the ethical obligations of attorneys in this state,” Caplan said, saying her obligations as Spector’s lawyer prohibited her from answering. Fidler then cited Caplan for contempt of court. He said he had twice before told Caplan he would hold her in contempt for failing to answer questions about allegations that Spector forensics expert Henry Lee removed an object from the crime scene and failed to turn it over to prosecutors.
“Having no choice,” Fidler said, he found Caplan “in direct contempt.” Fidler ordered her jailed, then delayed enforcing the order until Friday to give her time to appeal. Spector leaned forward on a cupped hand as he watched his former lawyer plead an obligation to keep silent on his behalf. Earlier, Caplan's attorney, Michael Nasatir, said forcing the lawyer to testify would be “unprecedented.” He suggested that Fidler could declare Caplan “unavailable” and then allow a transcript of her testimony to be introduced at the trial. But Fidler said attorney-client privilege, which Caplan cited as the reason for her silence, does not cover the testimony in question.