Secrecy Setback For Jackson

In a sharp reversal of the previous secrecy in the Michael Jackson case, the judge says the courtroom will be open when lawyers argue about a sensitive issue: whether the jury should hear testimony about as many as seven alleged past acts of sexual abuse by Jackson, reports CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales for The Early Show.

But Juge Rodney Melville said the issue won't be discussed until prosecutors have presented most of their case.

"We'll have many trials within the massive trial," says CBS News legal analyst Trent Copeland. "The fact that this case will move smoothly is clearly something that I just don't expect to happen."

As for the alleged victim at the center of the current case, prosecutors are now asking to present evidence they believe will help explain how Jackson's young accuser could seem so happy and loving in some pictures, and yet later claim to be a victim of abuse.

Prosecutors want to argue the boy suffers from child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome: when a victim is loyal to an offender, and initially won't admit he was abused.

A little more than a year ago, CBS News spoke to Dr. Mathis Abrams, the child psychologist who reportedly examined the young accuser in this case. Mathis explained, "Children may be frightened of the system, of the whole pressure."

Jackson's lawyers will argue that the young accuser and his family changed their minds because they were driven by money.

The judge reiterated Wednesday that Jackson must appear for jury selection, still set to begin Jan. 31.