A letter sent to the California Supreme Court said it was crucial in ensuring potential jurors were left untainted. It also said the Jackson case, due to go to trial, had sparked intense media interest and gossip. What was "reported as 'fact' becomes the nucleus of intense speculation", it said. Mr Jackson denies the charges. The letter was filed by District Attorney Thomas Sneddon and Deputy District Attorney Gerald Franklin. "Unseemly enthusiasm": Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 child molestation charges, which include a charge of conspiracy to abduct a child. The prosecutors said they were filing the letter because of requests from the media to lift the gagging order. It prohibits anyone involved in the case, on both sides, from talking about it. They said the original request for the gagging order had been sparked by Mr Jackson's former defence lawyer Mark Geragos "unseemly and prejudicial enthusiasm" to discuss the case on late night talk shows. Despite leaving the Mr Jackson's defence team, Mr Geragos is still covered by the ban. The letter alleged Mr Geragos had appeared on the shows for "his own belief in the 'factual innocence' of his client and the 'greed-motivated' purpose of the victim's family to 'shake down' Mr Jackson." Earlier this month, police seized items of Michael Jackson memorabilia for possible use in his trial on child abuse charges. The items, including a pair of Calvin Klein briefs, were secured by police in New Jersey in March, said Robert Honecker, a prosecutor in California. They belonged to a man who had acquired them under a legal settlement with the Jackson family several years ago.