I'm sort of back, but really not. Works is piled up on my desk. But I'll find something to write about.

Open Thread.

The New York Times reports that all three candidates in Mexico's upcoming presidential election are signalling a break from the U.S. in its drug war strategy.

The candidates, while vowing to continue to fight drug trafficking, say they intend to eventually withdraw the Mexican Army from the drug fight. They are concerned that it has proved unfit for police work and has contributed to the high death toll....

The U.S. believes this will result in more drugs coming into the U.S.[More...]

It's 95 degrees in Denver, apparently a record.

Who will be Mitt Romney's running mate? Some say Marco Rubio, while the LA Times gives this list:

Some of the names bandied about most often are Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.

Jeb Bush couldn't be any clearer he isn't interested. Paul Ryan said he's keeping his options. I wouldn't, it's not going to be him.

Who do you think Romney will pick? And does it matter?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Note: This post is around 4,000 words. You may have to read it in pieces. Comments must address the topic. After familiarizing yourself with the facts and issues under discussion, feel free to post a civil response.

Despite his lawyer's statement that George Zimmerman has some repair work to do on his credibility, I'm even less convinced than I was before that Zimmerman's credibility should be affected by the matters presented in the state's motion to revoke bond or the judge's order revoking bond.

Neither alleged George Zimmerman lied. They allege he was deceitful through his silence. I think why he was silent needs to be examined, and in examining it, I can't quite decipher what his lawyer, Mark O'Mara is saying: Is he falling on his sword because Zimmerman deceitful to him and the Court, or is he acknowledging his own missteps for failing to properly inform Zimmerman and by extension, his wife?

Here is the full docket in the case, and here are the publicly released pleadings. The State's Motion to Revoke Bond is here. The transcript of his wife's testimony at the April 20th bond hearing which the state is relying on is here. The audio of the June 1 hearing revoking bond is here. The video of the Judge's ruling on June 1 is here. [More...]

Here is the statement of Attorney General Eric Holder today announcing he has named two U.S. Attorneys to investigate the recent alleged leaks of classified information:

“Today, I assigned U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen Jr. and U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein to lead criminal investigations into recent instances of possible unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

The Washington Post reports: [More...]

Tony Mauro in USA Today writes about the 2012 election and the Supreme Court. He lists the oldest justices. Three will turn 80 during this next presidential term:

• 79, Ginsburg
• 76, Scalia
• 75, Kennedy
• 73, Breyer

Mauro writes:

If a President Romney gets to appoint replacements for liberals Ginsburg and Breyer, then abortion rights, gay rights, affirmative action and campaign-finance reform could well be in serious jeopardy. If President Obama gets to replace conservatives Scalia and Kennedy, then those doctrines will probably be safer, while regulation of the environment, gun rights, property rights and corporations could win more favor.

[More...]

Eric Holder is grilled again over Fast and Furious.

You can watch Alan Dershowitz' original comments about prosecutor Angela Corey in the George Zimmerman case here.

Still busy at work today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

We're on tornado watch here, a big storm is about to unfold.

Some Kim DotCom news: The FBI may have fedexed clones of the MegaUpload computers to the U.S. against the instructions of a New Zealand judge. DotCom's lawyers say the FBI may have "gazumped" the Crown. (Is that like "hoodwinked?"

Also, Judge David Harvey at the Auckland District Court, who is handling the extradition case said in an order last week:

"the US is attempting to utilise concepts from civil copyright context as a basis for the application of criminal copyright liability".

[More...]

As if the Zimmerman case needs more twists and turns, Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz writes that States Attorney Angela Corey called Harvard Law School and went on a 40 minute rant, threatening to sue the University for Dershowitz having expressed his opinion that she misled the court by leaving exculpatory evidence out of the arrest warrant affidavit. She originally called the Dean, but got transferred to the Office of Communications:

She was transferred to the Office of Communications and proceeded to engage in a 40-minute rant, during which she threatened to sue Harvard Law School, to try to get me disciplined by the Bar Association and to file charges against me for libel and slander. She said that because I work for Harvard and am identified as a professor she had the right to sue Harvard.

[More...]

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced today it won't review its decision on Prop 8. Backers will seek Supreme Court review.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

George Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara announced today he is delaying the filing a motion to release George Zimmerman on bond. In a cryptic statement he writes:

Mr. Zimmerman's legal defense team has decided to delay filing a motion for bond. A hearing will not be scheduled for a couple of weeks, and we will file a the motion well in advance of the hearing.

Zimmerman will remain in jail. One reason may be that the Judge is out of town this week, so there's no reason to file it now. Why give the state any more advance notice of his arguments than necessary? Another may be that he is obtaining all of George Zimmerman's jail calls, not just those the state's attorney's office presented to the judge.

Or maybe he wants the time to retain and pay for experts, and increase the amount of earned legal fees, having the fund pay for both before filing the motion. If the fund is depleted by the time he files the motion, there's no reason to increase the amount of the bond. Any other thoughts?

Here's Mark O'Mara's 911 call on May 14 reporting a threat.

Nine jurors were picked this morning for the trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, charged with sexual abuse of minor boys.

Here's a summary of the key players. Here's a summary of the charges and victims.

Testimony is expected to begin next week. Reporters may not tweet or use electronic devices from the courtroom and the alleged victims will have to testify using their real names.