Court officers keep journalists in Las Vegas courtroom after Michael Jackson doctor hearing

Journalists kept in court after Jackson MD leaves

LAS VEGAS — A court officer briefly detained a group of journalists inside a Las Vegas courtroom following a hearing involving Michael Jackson’s personal physician.

The group of reporters, videographers and producers was blocked from leaving for several minutes Monday while Dr. Conrad Murray and his lawyers were hustled from the Clark County Family Court building.

The journalists asked an armed, uniformed court officer several times to let them leave. But he politely declined, saying he was following orders.

Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer says he didn’t know why court security officers blocked the journalists from leaving, but said it might have been to maintain safety and decorum.

Murray was in court to answer charges that he failed to make child support payments to a California woman and her son.