Superior Court Judge Elden Fox bowed under pressure from the late-night legal team who cited various vacation and ratings related scheduling conflicts as reasons the trial should be postponed.
Ryder was arrested in December, 2001 and charged with second degree commercial burglary after allegedly taking $6,000 worth of Sak's Fifth Avenue merchandise. She is also being charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug.
"It's very important that everyone we represent and their writers are available to witness and ridicule the trial of Ms. Ryder," said Daniel Rosenstein the lead attorney of the late-night team. "And furthermore, if we can push this into October the ratings will be somewhat higher and our clients can really put their material to good use."
"We all have a vested interest in being on air when this trial goes live," said Alexander Hersch, attorney for Jon Stewart, who also answered questions after the hearing. "If 'The Daily Show' is in reruns that week, we are at a serious comedic disadvantage."
Asked how the legal team came together Hersch began name dropping almost immediately as he told of how two or three late-night hosts were coincidentally at the New York Friar's Club treating their lawyers to lunch at the same time.
"After an hour or so of martinis and mingling with the likes of Alan King and Drew Carey the groups loosened up, started talking and we stumbled onto the Ryder situation. We all had the same concerns. It seemed weird talking openly with 'the enemy', but once we realized that we could band together to ensure success, it only took two more drinks to make the decision," said Hersch. The lawyers drew up a complex agreement in the Friar Club's once secret "Lawyer Room".
While television industry executives are expressing interest in this strange turn of events some civil liberties groups are very upset.
"It's a travesty that the entertainment industry has such a powerful grip on Los Angeles," said Nadine Strossen, President of the ACLU. "I mean what's next? Are they going to push for legislation to make us watch that crap by law? Is local law enforcement going to come by and make sure I'm watching either Jay or Dave?"
When told of Strossen's comments, Rosenstein and Hersch looked nervously at each other and ended the interview by saying in unison, "No comment".
