*** New Thread at Firedoglake.com- Libby Live: Assorted Legal Jousting [View All]

"Oh, you're going to the big courthouse… the one where they tried to get Mr. Clinton."

That's what the cab driver said to Jane and I as we took our seats for the journey to the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse. Jane said, "We're going to get 'em back." She only meant that rhetorically, of course, as we very responsibly demonstrated when we arrived at the security checkpoint right behind Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his wife, and attorney William Jeffress. No insults or sharp objects were hurled, although it did seem to me that Scooter was looking quizzically at Jane and wondering where he'd seen her face before. (Probably just my imagination.)

My name's Swopa, and I'll be your host for this week's live-blogging. Please bear with me, since I'm new at this, and I have a sinking feeling that I don't type nearly as fast as emptywheel (or Jane, for that matter — she'll be in the courtroom today, along with Pach). So I'll be feeling my way until my brain and fingers find a groove they're both comfortable with, in terms of how much I can absorb and pass along in real time.

It's 9:41.

Judge Walton: The first matter is press access to the grand jury tapes… it would appear to me that this circuit has given a level of importance to the public's right of access to exhibits. Considering the importance that our circuit has given to this right, .

Jeffress objects, saying that the precedents don't really justify this step, and that the jury will find it impossible to avoid the publicity resulting from the release of tapes. (You mean they won't be able to avoid re-hearing the testimony they already heard in court??)

Walton doesn't see the difference between overhearing commentary on the tapes versus overhearing commentary on the transcripts.

Jeffress says that the intense media desire to get the tapes shows the greater play that they will receive. (He's got a point there.)