Another busy day for me. No rest for the wicked.

Open Thread.

The New York Times examines what agencies will be affected by a government shutdown.

What happens to the federal courts? How long can they stay function? What about court-appointed counsel? Will the defendants' cases proceed? If not, can they get a dismissal on speedy trial grounds? A few weeks ago, I got this notice from the Chief judges of the federal district and bankruptcy court in Nebraska. Clearly, they have been thinking about it.

Members of the Bar,

The district and bankruptcy courts have approved contingency plans should Congress fail to enact an appropriations bill or continuing resolution before April 8. If the federal government shuts down after April 8 because appropriations have lapsed, the Judiciary will continue normal operations for approximately two weeks using emergency funds. Thereafter, judges will continue to hear and decide cases; however, court support staff may be reduced to mission-essential activities.

In the meantime, court operations will continue as usual. Further information will be disseminated if and when necessary.

Things are going to get interesting. I still think a budget will pass by Friday.

Our earlier open thread is full. While I catch up the day's news, here's another one, all topics welcome.

It sounds tense in Washington. Can President Obama convince Congress to avoid a shutdown? He's trying.

Or will the Republicans in Congress just let the country fall apart?

It's a busy work day for me today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

BTD - For me too.

Here are Attorney General Eric Holder's remarks today explaining the Administration's decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 detainees before a military tribunal rather than in a federal criminal court.

[W]e must face a simple truth: those restrictions are unlikely to be repealed in the immediate future.

Holder said the five detainees, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Bin Attash, Ramzi Bin Al Shibh, Ali Abdul-Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Al Hawsaw, were indicted in the Southern District of New York in December, 2009, but he has now instructed prosecutors to dismiss the sealed indictment and turned the cases over to the Department of Defense. Today, a federal judge in New York granted the motion and unsealed the Indictment. [More...]

Attorney General Eric Holder will announce at 2:00 pm today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 detainees at Guantanamo will be tried by military commission instead of in federal criminal court.

Obama and Holder deserves there lumps over this, but the primary fault lies with Congress and officials in New York. [More...]

I'm sure there's stuff going on. I'm not interested enough to go find out what it is. Apathy is taking over. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I like UConn (-3) and Under (129) tonight. Rush to take the other side.

Open Thread.

The Obama 2012 campaign began today with the release of this video he sent out to supporters. The message: It's up to us.

One guy in the video says: "I don't agree with Obama on everything, but I respect him and I trust him."

My view: Go Obama. I'm not taking any chances that our Supreme Court justices, our Attorney General and our top prosecutors will be chosen by a Republican. And if Republicans continue to gain seats in Congress, we need a Democrat in the White House even more. He needs an early start to claim his ground. I'm just glad there are no primaries for the Dems this time to make us take our eye off the prize. And he's right: It's up to us.

The Oklahoman has an article today highlighting elderly non-violent defendants in drug cases who are sentenced to terms that, due to their age, amount to a life sentence. Often, these seniors' offense is selling their own lawfully obtained precription pills.

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control spokesman Mark Woodward said the argument is sometimes made that selling prescriptions becomes the only way for the elderly to supplement Social Security benefits and make money.

Check out these photographic exhibitions of aging and ill prisoners: Tim Gruber's Served Out – Aging and Dying Behind Bars and Grace Before Dying [More...].

Yesterday it was 84 degrees in Denver. Today, it's snowing.

I-70 is closed in both directions at the tunnel.

I-70 CLOSED in both directions from Silverthorne to Idaho Springs (MM 205-241) and from Vail Pass to Copper Mounain (MM 180-195) due to adverse conditions and multiple accidents. No estimated time for reopen. Reported Time: April 3rd, 2011 at 1:14 PM

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I've been writing for over a year about what I call the DEA's African Vacations. Shorter version: DEA agents go to Africa, set up an elaborate sting, whereby cocaine from South America is flown to Ghana or elsewhere in Africa, so that it can be transported to Europe, its final destination. Even though the cocaine isn't headed to the U.S., the feds in the U.S. indict the participants, have them arrested/kidnapped in Africa and fly them to the U.S. to stand trial on charges ranging from conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, to conspiracy to distribute or import drugs.

If the Government is successful in the prosecutions, we will bear not only the cost of the overseas investigation, the cost of prosecution (and in many cases, the cost of defending those charged), and the cost of pre-trial detention, but also the cost of incarceration of those convicted for the next 10 or 20 years. [More...]