Turkey day news and notes

Some of the commenters are expressing frustration that I didn't post the verdict in the Jack Maxwell trial. In my defense, I was traveling over the weekend and just missed the coverage in the Herald, which was buried in the local section. BTW, it was guilty on all counts. Sheesh!

In another case we've been covering, Judge D has ruled (in a 14 page Order) on the Government's motion to have its witnesses wear "light disguises." He splits the baby, allowing the light disguises but requiring the feds to turn over the names of the witnesses and allowing cross-examination on the observation posts (which the Government did not want). I can't wait to see what they actually wear to Court. The Order says they can wear makeup, wigs, and facial hair -- as long as the jurors can see their eyes...

Finally, a reader who attended the potrait hanging for former AG Ashcroft writes in from the road: "...[T]he event was very nice, and it was interesting to see Gen. Aschroft sitting in the Great Hall directly underneath the nude statute he had covered up during his tenure with large drapes. The tall statute of the woman on the right of the stage has one breast exposed (a la Janet Jackson). When the current AG introduced Aschcroft, he was pretty funny about it. He said that the contrasts between him and the former AG were pretty obvious, starting off with: 'You know, several members of the media have commented on the different styles between John and me. And I suppose that's true. For example, John likes blue drapes. I happen to like a more open look.'"