[AppyPappy]

It will be interesting to see the evidence. I wouldn't put it past Hale to contact one of his closest minions and give the order, not knowing the guy was an undercover fed. I get the feeling he is a coward deep down.

[Catspaw]

Given that Hale's buddy's 1999 shooting rampage was in Illinois & Indiana--a bit too close to me for comfort--I paid attention to Hale's numerous TV appearances post-murders. His story shifted from not knowing Smith to, well, he knew him, but he wasn't a member of the "church" to making Smith into a martyr for his "church." He just lied and lied and lied. They just never had enough to charge him, but there's no doubt in my mind that Hale inspired Smith to kill after Hale's law license was denied.

I can see Hale wanting a few degrees of separation from the actual murder of the judge--you know, "inspiring" someone to kill the judge, but not getting his hands dirty--but he may have said the wrong thing to the wrong person and that's how they nailed Hale. I hope the case is airtight.

The prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, is playing it smart by keeping details of this case close to his vest. (I don't like prosecutors who try their cases in the press.) I note none of the news stories I've read give much more than the basics of the indictment, which was quite thin as to details, and history of Hale and WCOTC.

There's also the matter of the informant, whose life would definitely be in danger once his/her identity is known.