You know, we used to think that Apple board member (and bestest-buddy-o'-Steve) Larry Ellison was the biggest blabbermouth when it came to ill-advisedly yammering to the press, but these days we have to say that "Redmond Justice" star Judge Jackson is rocketing up the charts. Whether or not you agree with his decision to stay Microsoft's conduct remedies until after the appeal, you'll probably agree that he's not helping his case by spending all his spare time talking through his foot every time some yahoo with a press pass sticks a microphone in his face. Not long ago he made headlines by admitting publicly that "virtually everything [he] did may be vulnerable on appeal"-- a quote that Microsoft's lawyers leapt on like a pack of starving dogs onto a ten-pack of Oscar Mayer wieners and included in their appeal filing.

To make matters worse, now The Register now reports that Jackson's been chewing the fat with the Financial Times. Responding to Microsoft's allegations that his willingness to chat about the case with the members of the fourth estate constitutes a "serious procedural error," Jackson stated that his comments were always "in accordance with federal codes of conduct." Even so, he evidently figures that he stands a good chance of being booted off the case entirely: "they may find a way to disqualify me," he moans.

Of course, discussing the possibility of getting the shaft with yet another member of the press might well be the shortest distance to a self-fulfilling prophecy. And so while Microsoft continues to press for an appeal schedule that won't reveal the end of this case until the sun goes nova, the man who found the company guilty in the first place prepares for the axe. Meanwhile, those conduct remedies remain unenforced, which means it's just business as usual for the Redmond gang until the sun goes out. Hey, Microsoft can't always be the underdog in this case-- where's the drama in that?