David A. Martin, a former general counsel of the immigration service, said the rule permitting judges to close proceedings probably provided an adequate legal basis for secrecy.

Mr. Courter has said that the statute is too lax and that it has permitted liberal judges to avoid executions from taking place.

Dershowitz maintains that the law should be introduced to permit civil judges to issue limited "torture warrant", under special circumstances, like the "ticking time bomb" scenario.

Defense lawyers say it is the longest pretrial detention since a 1984 Federal law permitted judges to deny bail to defendants who they believe are a danger to the community.

Fourteen of the 94 Federal District Courts have adopted rules permitting judges to authorize cameras in trial courts.

Because you'd have to permit open voting, juries and judges and . . ." "We call them Proctors.

California's law, adopted by referendum in 1994, is possibly the harshest in the country, permitting judges to treat as third felonies crimes that would ordinarily be considered misdemeanors.

Of the six amendments that were being floated on Monday, the most contentious would permit federal judges to select a state law to apply in large multistate class actions.

Only two states, Oregon and West Virginia, have enacted laws permitting judges to require that Breathalyzers be installed in the cars of convicted drunk drivers.

It was reported in 2007 that "Beginning around 35 years ago, increases in violent juvenile crime permitted judges to transfer juveniles to adult-criminal courts.