Flooding the Courts

The federal court system in New Orleans is shut down -- and it'll take an act of Congress to get them back up and running. With the city flooded, the courthouse is closed. And federal law forbids the court from moving outside their geographic area to handle cases.

That could cause problems because the Speedy Trial Act sets deadlines for criminal cases. If the federal courts can't hear the cases on schedule, the accused go free.

Congress will have to vote to change the law to allow the court to move out of the flooded city. (USAToday)