Lawyers defending Michael Jackson in a child molestation case have asked that all pretrial hearings be held out of public view, in judge's chambers.
The pretrial hearings will determine what evidence will be allowed at the singer's trial later this year.
The hearings will include discussion of the prosecution's request to admit evidence of alleged "prior sexual offences" by Mr Jackson, 46.
Mr Jackson denies 10 child molestation and conspiracy charges.
Mr Jackson's lawyers argue that the prosecution's "inflammatory and unfounded testimony" regarding alleged previous sex crimes could prejudice the jury pool.
"The media coverage of this case is unprecedented, and it is certain that anything said in open court will be broadcast to any of the already summoned potential jurors," said Mr Jackson's lawyers.
Closed doors
Theodore Bourtrous, who represents a coalition of media organisations covering the case, has opposed the request.
"The Jackson forces have sought to litigate this trial in secrecy," said Mr Bourtrous.
"The standards for closing hearings are extremely high, and they clearly haven't met it," he added.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville is expected to rule on the matter on 12 January.
Much of the case has already been conducted behind closed doors, with Judge Melville issuing a strict gag order that bars either side from speaking publicly about the case.
Virtually all court documents have been sealed, including some 14,000 pages of evidence filed by Santa Barbara County prosecutors, and those released to the public have been heavily censored.
Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin on 31 January.
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