FDC-Miami closed until further notice

More news as we get it, but I have to assume this is because Padilla is in the house....

Miami Venue Amicus

The 11th Circuit today permitted the filing of amicus briefs in the Cuban Spy case. If you are wondering why this is blog worthy, see here.

Bond for Padilla's co-defendant

Althought Jose Padilla grabbed all the headlines today, his co-defendant, Kifah Wael Jayyousi, a Jordanian who became a U.S. citizen in 1987, will likely be free pending trial. He won today in front of U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke who set a $1.3 million bond, ordered electronic monitoring and that he not leave the South Florida area. Jayyousi has been in special solitary confinement since his arrest in March 2005. This is a huge win both for Jayyousi and his lawyer, William Swor, who won't need to spend countless hours in federal criminal defense lawyer's hell -- preparing a case for a client detained in the special housing unit (called the SHU).

BTW, I wonder what Prof. Froomkin thinks now about Judge Cooke.

Jose Padilla's First Appearance

I attended Jose Padilla's first appearance today in the Southern District of Florida. Magistrate Judge Barry Garber presided. The lead Miami prosecutor on the case is Russell Killinger, a well-respected veteran in the Southern District of Florida. In court, Judge Garber told Padilla that his lawyers, Andrew Patel and Donna Newman, called chambers and said they wanted to appear, so the Judge postponed the hearing until tomorrow at 4PM. Just in case, the Miami Federal Public Defender's office was present in court.

Padilla appeared calm in court, answering the Judge politely with short yes-or-no responses. Garber explained to Padilla his rights, which was interesting as Padilla has been held for the past three years while lawyers wrangled over what sorts of rights he has.

Padilla had a short haircut. He was wearing glasses, black sneakers and an orange jumpsuit. The amount of security was amazing. Helicopters were flying over the courthouse. There were numerous marshals and court security officers in the courtroom. And there was lots of press. I'm sure they were disappointed by the three minute hearing.

Nevertheless, there was a certain electricity in the courtroom. The Southern District is a very exciting place to practice law right now, especially with Padilla and Abramoff fighting for above-the-fold coverage.

Jack Abramoff's hats

So everyone can see what the comment below was referring to, here are the two hats Abramoff wore for the DC plea and the Miami plea.

And the Justice Building Blog calls us too law based...