As if the Omar Khadr trial wasn't dramatic enough already, yesterday Khadr's lawyer, Lt. Col. Jon Jackson collapsed in the courtroom while cross examining a witness. It's not entirely clear what happened, but he had undergone gall bladder surgery a few weeks ago. The Judge, Col. Patrick Parrish, has suspended the trial for 30 days.
Carol Rosenberg reports that a 30-day delay under such circumstances is unusual:
Former West Point law instructor Gary Solis, a retired Marine judge, said it is not unusual to suspend a military trial for a long weekend with instructions to a jury to not read media coverage. A 30-day delay that might send jurors back to bases around the world "is very unusual,'' he said.
Keep in mind that Jackson is Khadr's only lawyer, because he fired his civilian lawyers several weeks ago before issuing a statement indicating he intended to boycott the proceedings.
