>>will be sentenced in April, a federal judge ordered today.<<
Why the long wait?
Under federal law, you can't be sentenced until the probation office has completed a Pre Sentence Report. Its a 25-50+ page document that sums up the defendants life, family history, medical history, criminal history, education, employment, facts of the case, related defendants involvement,etc. Once it is completed the prosecution and defense have 2 weeks to file objections to the report. The probation office then determines whether to change anything in the report. If the report isn't changed then at the sentencing hearing the court determines through evidence and exhibits what the proper sentencing range is, etc. Its a long drawn out process to comport with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Clever ACLU lawyers ?
Probably a solar-powered courtroom.