Michael Jackson: Defense Lawyer Mesereau Says Juries Don’t Like to Convict Doctors

Michael Jackson‘s accused killer, Dr. Conrad Murray, may not be convicted so easily.

That’s what Jackson’s former defense lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, suggests in an interview that’s buried in a new book.

The interview is with, of all people, Judge Larry Seidlin, the “crying judge” who made a fool of himself when he presided over the Anna Nicole Smith inquest in Florida. Not satisfied with his two minutes of fame, Seidlin has “published” a “book” called “The Killing of Anna Nicole Smith.”

I’ll skip Seidlin’s sad efforts to get Mesereau to praise him. Certainly, Mesereau slyly ignores Seidlin’s request for compliments. But what Mesereau, a top notch criminal defense lawyer, does say might be of interest. It’s particularly noteworthy since he liked Michael Jackson a lot, and fought hard for his acquittal in 2005.

Mesereau says: “I think that any prosecutor is going to be a little hesitant to go after someone who appears to be just the delivery person” —  in regard to Anna Nicole’s situation. But then he continues:  “You know, any crime requires a certain mental state, a certain form of intent. In law school, you learn about the general intent and specific intent but regardless of what term you use, it does require one to have a criminal state of mind to be guilty of almost any crime.”

There’s a lot more along this line, but Mesereau then answers a question by bringing in the Elvis Presley case–and this is relevant to Dr. Murray as it is to Dr. Christine Ehrosevich, who was Anna Nicole Smith’s doctor.

“Remember, the physician who was prescribing Elvis Presley inordinate amounts of medication was charged with manslaughter and acquitted years ago. So juries, in my opinion, don’t like to convict doctors unless there’s a tremendous pattern of abuse and criminal conduct.”

Mesereau continues, speaking in general circumstances: “Now if the doctor committed malpractice, maybe that belongs in a civil trial, maybe it belongs in an administrative hearing on his license. But I think a lot of people are reluctant to bring it to [the] level of a crime.”

Jackson fans are very emotional about Dr. Murray. But things when you get into a courtroom. Mesereau’s thoughts on this subject cannot be overlooked. I’m sure Dr. Murray’s lawyers are paying close attention to them.