The federal government has decided to intervene following yesterday's verdict in the trial of Johannes Mehserle. The Justice Department's civil rights division, along with the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco and the FBI, are conducting a review to determine whether the case warrants federal prosecution. The review will begin after the state's case has concluded, following Mehserle's sentencing on August 6th.

As you may recall, two of the four Los Angeles policemen involved in the beating of Rodney King were convicted on federal civil rights charges after they were acquitted in state court.

In related news, The Huffington Post (from whence we read this story) has a shot of the belovedly sad Sears bedroom display being looted at 19th and Telegraph.