A Los Angeles judge has banned Tv cameras from documenting the wrongful death lawsuit surrounding Michael Jackson's 2009 passing.

The King of Pop's mother, Katherine, is suing AEG Live, the promoters behind the superstar's doomed This Is It comeback concerts, claiming they were negligent in ignoring life-threatening health concerns and holding them responsible for hiring Conrad Murray, the medic who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for causing the singer's death.

Jury selection got underway in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday (02Apr13), and on Friday (05Apr13), Judge Yvette Palazuelos ruled the court case will not be televised, reports CNN.com.

Palazuelos did not reveal her reasons for the ruling, but lawyers for AEG Live had argued that allowing cameras into the courtroom could cause a frenzy among fans and endanger key witnesses in the case. Katherine Jackson's legal team, which has listed stars including Diana Ross, producer Quincy Jones, Michael's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley and Sharon Osbourne as potential witnesses, had been in favour of filming the trial.

Pre-trial proceedings are due to continue this week (begs08Apr13), while the trial itself is expected to last for at least two months.

Katherine Jackson is reportedly seeking more than $40 billion from AEG Live executives for loss of future earnings and other damages.