At a hearing today in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Districrt Court Judge Robert Jones ordered that Mike Hawash will be detained until April 29 when he is scheduled to appear before a grand jury and answer questions.

The hearing was closed to the public. Lawyers were ordered gagged. In a written ruling after the hearing, the Judge said,""I conclude by clear and convincing evidence that the material witness must be detained, but not indefinitely."

Hawash, a software contractor for Intel Corp., is being held in relation to a case that the Federal Bureau of Investigation says it cannot discuss because of court rules, which it also cannot discuss. "We are just outraged. We cannot believe that the government can hold a guy with a wife, three kids, a house and a U.S. passport for another three weeks without charges," said Steve McGeady, Hawash's former boss at Intel who is arguing for his release.

About 150 of Hawash's supporters protested at the courthouse today. Update: Here is the text of the Judge's Order. We misread the Reuters article we cited above. It states:

West Bank-born Maher "Mike" Hawash, a U.S. citizen for 15 years, will be detained as a material witness for grand jury testimony until April 29, Judge Robert Jones, U.S. District Judge for the District of Oregon, said in an order after a hearing behind closed doors with a gag order slapped on lawyers for both sides.

The Judge's order makes it clear that Hawash is either to be deposed or appear before the grand juryto answer questions on April 25, and that another secret detention hearing will be held April 29.

I hereby direct the United States Attorney (1) to perpetuate the witness' testimony by deposition; or (2) present the witness before the grand jury for testimony with or without immunity not later than April 25, 2003. A closed detention hearing will be held April 29, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 14B.

Thanks to the Portland Communique for setting us straight in the comments below. You can view pictures of the protest here .

Update: Here's more from Tuesday's Oregonian.