Roman Polanski transcript release ordered by Court of Appeal

A three-judge appellate panel on Wednesday ordered the release of a transcript in the Roman Polanski case, a day after the Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office withdrew its objection to the document’s disclosure.

Two authors, Sam Wasson and William Rempel, had asked the court to unseal transcripts of a 2010 interrogation of Roger Gunson, the retired prosecutor who worked the 1977 case against Polanski. Polanski has been a fugitive since escaping to France in 1978. just before he was to be convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski and his supporters have often argued that Judge Laurence Rittenband committed serious misconduct and failed to keep his promise not to sentence him to more than 90 days of psychiatric evaluation. Gunson was interviewed for the 2008 documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which took a closer look at the handling of the case. He also testified behind closed doors for three days in 2010 when Polanski’s defense attorneys tried to dismiss the case. Gunson has accused Rittenband of acting improperly and claims that his own superiors prevented him from removing the judge from the case.

The prosecutor’s office has previously opposed the release of the Gunson transcript and Polanski’s efforts to have the case dismissed or tried in absentia. But George Gascón, who was elected prosecutor in 2020, reversed the office’s position when the minutes were released on Monday. Tiffiny Blacknell, a special adviser to Gascón, also said diversity that the Bureau is interested in reviewing the case with “fresh eyes” and will decide on next steps after seeing what the transcript says.

In its Wednesday order, the Court of Appeals noted the prosecutor’s overturning, saying, “We agree with the people that there is no basis in fact or law for the record of conditional deposit to remain sealed.”

The court also cited a 2009 ruling of its own in which the appellate court asked the lower court to investigate allegations of misconduct in the Polanski case. At the time, the court wrote, “Fundamental fairness and justice in our criminal justice system is far more important than the conviction and sentencing of an individual … Polanski’s allegations urgently require a full investigation and then, where appropriate, remedial action for the alleged abuses here.”

Polanski’s attorney, Harland Braun, said Tuesday he may renew his efforts to resolve the case once the transcript is released.

Gascón issued a statement Wednesday afternoon noting that the victim in the case, Samantha Geimer, had asked for the record to be unsealed. Gascón also indicated an interest in “closing” the case.

“The court’s decision has helped us fulfill our responsibilities to speak the truth to the public and to listen to the survivors,” he said. “We hope it gives her a small measure of reassurance that she can finally bring this decade-long legal battle to some conclusion.”