As expected, the three-judge panel hearing the California prison overcrowding case has tentatively ordered release of tens of thousands of prisoners, Don Thompson of AP reports. The panel consists of Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt and District Judges Thelton Henderson and Lawrence Karlton. This is possibly the most heavily pro-prisoner panel in the history of the American judiciary.

Fortunately, in the Prison Litigation Reform Act Congress provided for a direct appeal of such orders to the Supreme Court.

Update: Tentative ruling here. CDCR response here.