Finally! "Redmond Justice" vaults back into action, as Microsoft's legal team and the government lawyers take a break from their interminable off-camera settlement negotiations to trudge back into court one last time. On Tuesday, both sides will make their final oral arguments to Judge Jackson, before that stalwart champion of justice issues his verdict. If there was ever a "home stretch" in this marathon case, this would appear to be it-- and things still aren't looking good for Microsoft's legal team, known to insiders as "the punching bags." Remembers, Jackson's findings of fact ripped their arguments to shreds, and yet word has it that settlement talks are still going nowhere.

Of course, when you consider what would happen if Microsoft loses, perhaps it's not all that hard to understand why they haven't settled despite overwhelming odds. As a Nando Media article puts it, an actual verdict of any kind (instead of a settlement) would result in "an agonizingly slow appeals battle that could wind through the federal courts for years longer." Catching on yet? There's no such thing as bad publicity, and we figure that Microsoft's developed a taste for the limelight. If the company loses, the glacial appeals process will guarantee that "Redmond Justice" will run for many more years to come, whereas a settlement would result in one big media blitz, followed by dead air. If you were the star of a hit courtroom drama, which fate would you prefer?

Jackson, meanwhile, wants out, but nothing he can do seems to spur the two parties any closer to an agreement. You recall how he assigned Judge Posner to mediate the settlement talks? Well, Jackson declared that he was willing to postpone Tuesday's arguments if Posner "seems to think that more time is needed." Nope; apparently talks are at enough of a standstill that extra time isn't going to do any good, much to Jackson's chagrin. So the final arguments will proceed as planned, and eventually Jackson's going to have to issue a verdict. Then get ready for the spin-off: "Redmond Justice: The Appeal."