Sarah Palin likely to testify in Kernell trial

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From Tennessee comes a report that Sarah Palin will likely testify in the trial of alleged hacker David Kernell April 20:

It's official: One-time vice presidential candidate and conservative star Sarah Palin is coming to Knoxville.

But Palin won't be headlining a Tea Party. She'll be taking the witness stand.

Palin, former Alaska governor and running mate to Republican Sen. John McCain in his 2008 bid for the White House, will testify in U.S. District Court in Knoxville next month when University of Tennessee student David C. Kernell stands trial on charges involving Palin's personal Yahoo! e-mail account.

Kernell's defense attorney, Wade Davies, wants Palin to bring any documents relating to that account - when it was opened, how it could be accessed and why and who was allowed to use it.

"I don't want to get in the position where at the last minute there are questions about whether (subpoenas) were properly delivered," Davies told U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley on Wednesday when seeking the legal OK to electronically serve witnesses, including Palin.

Federal prosecutors have insisted Davies' records request of Palin is a veiled fishing expedition. Shirley will hear more about the subpoena debate at a March 24 hearing.

Regardless of what, if any, records Palin is ordered to bring, her presence is guaranteed. She is, prosecutors note, the alleged victim.

More here and here.

- JP

Federal judge sets April 20 trial date in Palin hacking case

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Barring any further delaying tactics by his attorneys, a University of Tennessee student accused of hacking the personal e-mail of Sarah Palin will face trial April 20:

U.S. Magistrate Clifford Shirley set the date Wednesday at a motions hearing in the case of 22-year-old David C. Kernell. He is accused of gaining access to Palin's account in September 2008 by correctly answering a series of personal security questions. He has pleaded not guilty.

Kernell is the son of state Rep. Michael Kernell (D-Memphis).

Update: Well, we did say, "barring any further delaying tactics by his attorneys." And so, as Knoxville News Sentinel Nashville bureau chief Tom Humphrey reports, Kernell's lawyer Wade Davies is now challenging the federal judge's authority to issue search warrants for Internet companies outside Tennessee. Davies is trying to keep any evidence obtained from Yahoo! and other Internet providers from being introduced in the case.

- JP