The emails were released as part of a pre-trial motion in Lane's wrongful termination suit against CBS.

Legal briefs are used as part of arguing a pre-trial motion in a case or proceeding.

Four Associate Judges deal with pre-trial motions and non-jury trials.

Still, no defendant has pleaded temporary insanity or suggested, at least in the pre-trial motions, being brainwashed.

The trial and pre-trial motions lasted 47 days, spread over 16 months, ending in March 2000.

"Beam does not concede maternal alcohol consumption causes birth defects," the company's lawyers wrote in a pre-trial motion.

Investigators and the prosecution suggested during pre-trial motions that Muhammad intended to kill his ex-wife Mildred, who had estranged him from his children.

Defense lawyers asserted in pre-trial motions and in statements to reporters that the investigation and prosecution were tainted by racial prejudice.

Andre Rand's court case did not start for four years after his indictment - one of the longest pre-trial motions in New York State history.

"Complex pre-trial motions, lengthy jury selections, and expenses for expert witnesses are all likely to add to the costs in death penalty cases," he says.