Running a FR search on 'Sanhedrin' yields ample coverage of this story:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;s=sanhedrin
Searching authentic Torah sources on the web yields almost nothing, and nothing favorable. This is a mostly Christian obsession, with secular press coverage mostly intended to mock religious Jews. The Jerusalem Post has labeled this Jewish court of 71 ('Sanhedrin' is a misnomer) as 'Kahanists.'
There are actually a few recognized religious scholars connected with this, but in their more-or-less public speaking tours on other Torah matters, they are remarkably quiet, even apologetic, about their involvement. Most know they are on very, very shaky ground.