Thread by @TimInHonolulu

1. Listening to call in Judge Amit Mehta's DC court to address Michael Sherwin's @60Minutes interview. LP Edwards, two supervisors John Crab Crim Div Head. Joseph Cuny [sp] also a supervisor. And someone named Basset. Gregory Mazel [sp] US attorney supervisor.

2. Amit Mehta is an Obama appointee and has a background as public defender. All judges enforce the rules but I would think a defense attorney would be especially sensitive to a violation of the local rules.

3. Calling the case.

4. Judge thanks counsel and notes the defendants are not present and notes the court believes it is not required on the short notice. Addressed the 60 Minutes with Sherwin and that he addressed the evidence and noted sedition though not focused on the case. Also noted @nytimes

5. Judge is not happy and hopes the @TheJusticeDept will look into it. Times article devulging internal deliberations is not DOJ policy. He is politely reading the riot act about not talking out of school. He's making clear he will issue a gag order or sanction any attorney.

6. Cites Rule 57.7 and says will enforce it with vigor. He's very calm and very clear that 60 Minutes and NY Times leaks were out of bounds and will result in sanctions if they are repeated. DOJ lawyer is talking. John Crab the DOJ criminal head is there. He's asking about

7. about steps being taken. Crab is agrees with the court about the concert and has taken steps. On 60 minutes, DOJ has rules that deal with interviews and it was not followed and they referred to OPR.

8. On the NY Times, they don't think it was the trial team an OPR will get a referral for the NY Times article. Judge is asking about "guard rails" on high profile matters. And how unusual these comments and reports are.

9. Crab refers to the DOJ Manual and the DC local rules plus the bar rules. Judge wants to be kept informed of the events going forward on the DOJ OPR actions.

Judge is giving the attorneys a chance to be heard. Counsel are commenting. Some reserving the right to file a motion.

10. My comment: @60Minutes should be called to task for inducing an ethical violation. IMO it's actionable. They are saying that 60 Minutes contacted some of the defense attorneys. I think Sherwin will be disciplined. As I reported, I believe he should be suspended or disbarred.

11. Judge makes sure all counsel have had a chance to speak and closes the call.

12. Follow up: OPR operates like a state bar. If they punch your ticket, reciprocity means you're likely no longer licensed anywhere. Sherwin has been around too long to not know what he did. IMO somebody put him up to trying to impair the cases. I wonder who? @TheJusticeDept