At the Bradley Manning trial: Former computer hacker Adrian Lamo testified today.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

George Zimmerman has won his appeal of Judge Debra Nelson's denial of his request to depose Martin family lawyer Benjamin Crump about the interview of Witness 8, the woman on the phone with Trayvon Martin shortly before the shooting. (Background here.)

The opinion is here. Crump had intervened as a third party asserting various privileges. The appeals court noted he is not an attorney in the case (and not a prosecutor), and waived any privilege he might have had by having third parties from the media (ABC) present at the interview.

Crump said last night he will sit for the deposition. [More...]

The judge presiding over the criminal case of James Holmes, accused of the Aurora theater shootings, has accepted Holmes' plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Today was the deadline for the filing of non-capital motions. The defense filed a slew of them. They are available here.

One motion gives notice the defense will move for a change of venue before trial. In other pleadings, it asks that the jury be sequestered during jury selection and that non-English speaking jurors be allowed to serve (and that the court provide translators.) [More...]

A busy work day. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Supreme Court allows taking DNA swabs from arrestees.

Bradley Manning goes on trial today. He pleaded guilty to several offenses in February, but the Government wanted more. Among the charges for which he will be tried are violations of the Espionage Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. He faces a potential life penalty.

Since much of the evidence is classified, large portions of the trial are not expected to take place in public.

Portions of his Feb. 2013 statement accepting responsibility for providing documents to Wikileaks have been unsealed. You can read it here. Highlights are here. The site FreeBradleyManning has many more details about Manning and the case.

The party at Owl Farm is about to get underway. Here's the tent with the stage the bands will be playing on. [More....]

It's time for the Annual NORML legal conference in Aspen.

Have a great weekend, I'll be checking in from time to time, but not before late tonight.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Manssor Arbabsiar, Texas used car dealer charged with in a murder for hire plot to kill the Iranian ambassador, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The Government alleged the Iranian military used him to hire a Mexican drug cartel to carry out the assassination.

Arbabsiar had approached someone he thought was a member of Los Zetas. He turned out to be a government informant.

Marcy at Empty Wheel has been following this story. Her post today on the sentencing is here.

Yesterday, George Zimmerman's lawyer posted and tweeted the defense fund was out of money and desperately in need of $75,000 to $150,000 for experts, deposition transcripts and other expenses.

Since then, they have raised $12,000. Some of the donors have explained why their are contributing.

“I don't know if George Zimmerman is guilty or not, but he deserves the ability to defend his self in court as best he can. This donation wouldn't be necessary if certain individuals and organizations hadn't attempted to act as his judge, jury, and executioner in the wake of that terrible night. Good luck, and may the truth prevail, whatever it may be.”

[More...]

Abdulbaki Todashev, the father of Ibragim Todashev, is demanding an investigation into his son's shooting death by the FBI. Holding a picture of his dead son that shows his autopsy scars, he accuses the FBI of murder.

“I want justice. I want an investigation,” he said at a Moscow news conference. “They come to your house like bandits, and they shoot you.”

It now appears his son was unarmed when agents and or cops blasted him with 7 bullets (six shots to the body and a “control” shot to the back of the head.) Of course, other unnamed officials continue to say he had a weapon. The disparity alone this long after the shooting shows something is askew. They can't even get their stories straight.[More...]

I'm short on time today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Michelle Bachman is not running for reelection. I can't think of any reason to care. I've never devoted even a single brain cell to thinking about her. Sounds like it's time for her to retreat into the obscurity from which she came. Unless she gets indicted, she's now less than a footnote in the history of national affairs.

If anyone wants to discuss her, here's a thread to do so.