Media staking their claims for space at murder trial

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998 | 10:56 a.m.

Thomas Marvulli directed his mail cart up Carson Street Monday on his way to make deliveries inside the Clark County Courthouse.

Normally the courthouse mailroom worker uses the back door at the loading dock and mailroom area to move inside and make his rounds. But on this day his pass card would not work because of new security measures put in place during the Jeremy Strohmeyer murder trial, which began Monday with jury selection.

Therefore Marvulli was forced to make his deliveries by pushing his cart around the outside of the building.

Not so tough, you say?

It is when you are dodging satellite trucks and cables snaking their way across sidewalks. The area outside of the courthouse has become a parking lot for huge television news trucks complete with satellite uplinks and miles of cable to serve portable generators and air conditioners.

"It's been kind of crazy around here today," Marvulli said. "I've been working here for two months and this is the biggest thing I've ever seen."

The rows of mobile media mystery machines start about halfway up Carson Street and reach all the way to the corner of Third Street. The grassy areas in front of the courthouse also have been staked out for standup shots and analysis positions complete with tents and chairs for the on-air personalities.

Once inside the courthouse, Marvulli proceeds through the staff entrance, avoiding the line of people waiting to get through the metal detectors.

"I've been delivering mail all day and I go back to where the judges' secretaries are and the Strohmeyer trial is all they are talking about," Marvulli said. "It's like a low buzz that is all over the place today."

Those who aren't talking about the trial proceedings are discussing the extensive media coverage.

"It's a circus out there with all those huge trucks from L.A.," a courthouse worker said as she got on the elevator.

All of the national network Los Angeles affiliates are represented at the trial as well as local media outlets.

Nancy Gates, a receptionist in the District Court administration office, spent much of her morning distributing press passes.

"It actually went really well today," Gates said. "This kind of thing is a little new to us but it has been OK."

District Court 4, where jury selection continues today, has the extra security offered by a metal detector, and a bailiff and a Metro Police officer standing guard outside.

Back in the elevator, people were still talking.

"I wonder when this thing is going to end?" asked a worker from the microfilm department on the third floor.

Rumors circulating throughout the courthouse have the trial lasting anywhere from six weeks to six months.

"I hope that it ends soon because as far as I know I'll have to keep going around the outside of the building until it's over," Marvulli said.