Judge Blocks Inmate Releases:  A Sacramento Superior Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the early release of county jail inmates.  The order, in response to a petition from the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association (SCDPA), notes that state legislation adopted last fall which requires early inmate releases is ambiguous as to whether it applies to county jails as well as state prisons. In addition, the statute may be invalid.  A Sacramento Bee story by Andy Furillo reports that counsel for the SCDPA argued that the early releases violated Proposition 9, the Victims Bill of Rights Initiative adopted by California Voters in 2008, and also causes "irreparable harm" to public safety. The attorney cited a local jail inmate who received an early release last week and was arrested a short time later for attempted rape.  In his order Judge Loren E. McMaster found "that the moving party has shown that it is `reasonably probable' that it will succeed on the merits." 

Canadian Murder Case: Rob Gillies reports for AP, "Canada's top general says the military is in shock after the commander of Canada's largest Air Force base was charged with the murder of two women and the sexual assault of two others." Kathleen Harris reports for the Toronto Sun, "Facebook has become a busy forum for showing support for victims and unleashing outrage from Canadians calling for a return of the death penalty in the wake of murder and sex assault charges against Col. Russell Williams."