Yesterday we reported on Judge Lonnie Brinkema's order preventing the Government from seeking the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui as a sanction for the Government's refusal to comply with her prior order directing it to make 3 captured al Qaeda members available to Moussaoui to interview.

Actually, her order goes much further and bars all 9/11 evidence:

Exacting punishment for disobeying her orders, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema on Thursday barred the government from introducing any "evidence or argument that the defendant was involved in, or had knowledge of" the suicide hijackings.

The Government's options are now:

Ask the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., to restore the prosecution's full case.

Move the trial from a civilian court to a military tribunal, where rules might help the prosecution.

Proceed in Brinkema's court without the Sept. 11 evidence.

You can read the Judge's order here.