Court Plans Daily Lottery For Seattle, Sonics Trial Attendance

Court Has Limited Seating For Sonics Trial

U.S. District Court clerk Bruce Rifkin yesterday said that a drawing will be "held each morning of the six-day trial" that begins Monday between the city of Seattle and the Sonics to determine "who can gain access to the limited seating available," according to Greg Johns of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. Only 40 seats will be available to the public, and lottery numbers will be "passed out at the courthouse entrance starting at [7:00am PT] each day during the trial, with a drawing then held at [8:00am] to determine" who can attend the morning session. Another 40 will be allowed into the afternoon session. Court officials said that "no cameras or electronic devices will be allowed in the courtroom for the public or media." Twenty-one media members will be allowed in each session, with others "sent to an overflow room" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/11).

SCHULTZ' CASE: Lawyers for both sides in Starbucks Chair & CEO and former Sonics owner Howard Schultz' lawsuit against the current Sonics owners have asked U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman to "delay pretrial hearings until after the city's court case against the team concludes." The city's case against the Sonics is set to conclude June 26 (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/11).