Judge Warns Lawyers in Conrad Murray Case

Los Angeles - The judge presiding over the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician issued a strong warning today to attorneys in the case, telling them they were not permitted to make any public comments about the case.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor was reacting to a morning interview given by one of defense attorney Edward Chernoff's partners, Matthew B. Alford, on NBC's "Today" show. Alford spoke to the show's Ann Curry in a live interview outside the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles, criticizing Thursday testimony by Jackson security guard Alberto Alvarez.

Alford also discussed Jackson's longtime use of propofol, the powerful sedative that eventually killed him.

After jurors in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray left the courtroom for the lunch break, Pastor met privately with attorneys and then said publicly that he wanted to make it clear that they -- and their support staffs -- are not to comment on any aspects of the case, including editorializing or making any comments about the credibility of witnesses or the court's rulings.

The judge then ordered Alford, one of the partners in Chernoff's Houston law firm, to return to court this afternoon "for further proceedings."