randjack, that's one impressive kit.

re courthouses, have been there and agree. i also think groo raised a good point ... can't blame the marshals ... they're doing as instructed. doing otherwise would only land them in red tape hell and possibly cost them the their jobs.

i covered federal courts for a while when i was a reporter; maybe we're just lucky in the Midwest, but the marshals, FBI, postal, IRS and ATF guys i used to see all the time we're good, down-to-earth people who worked in the surreal world of the US Govt. Also, the 3 judges in our courthouse were indeed honorable.

there's still some good folks in government.

but, goodness, it was scary how much investigative and attorney power the feds could employ once they decided to go to trial. ... and the rules of the court and the sentencing guidelines (since tossed or hugely revised) seemed, to an educated layman, stacked in the prosecution's favor moreso than in state court. i know i never want the feds in my sock drawer.

still, these are the musings of a wandering mind, which has wandered off-topic. my bad.