President Barack Obama predicted Wednesday that alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be convicted and put to death, as a top aide urged Americans to trust their courts and not "cower" from terrorists.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama suggested on Wednesday the self-professed mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks would be convicted and put to death, but later said he was not trying to prejudge the trial.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama suggested on Wednesday the self-professed mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks would be convicted and put to death, but later said he was not trying to prejudge the trial.

US President Barack Obama, defending plans to try accused September 11 author Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian court, predicted Wednesday that he would be convicted and executed.

President Barack Obama predicted Wednesday that alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be convicted and put to death, as a top aide urged Americans to trust their courts and not "cower" from terrorists.

US President Barack Obama, defending plans to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian court, predicted the accused September 11 author would be convicted and executed.

Senate confirms controversial Obama nominee for Chicago appeals court. The Senate on Thursday confirmed U.S. District Judge David Hamilton for the Chicago-based federal appeals court, approving a nominee targeted by conservatives as a liberal activist.

Sessions: Stop $35 billion tanker competition until Boeing, Northrop pricing data disclosed. A Senate Republican who backs Northrop Grumman Corp.'s bid for a disputed $35 billion Air Force tanker contract wants to withhold funding until the service resolves a company gripe with the competition.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. patent office, which can take up to three years to approve a patent application, has a $200 million shortfall that may require a temporary 15 percent fee hike, its director said on Tuesday.

A Rhode Island woman urged senators Tuesday to ease bankruptcy rules for people devastated by medical debt, as she described the pain of losing a child and going broke from his health care bills.

Rhode Island woman fights for bankruptcy changes after losing her son and going broke. A Rhode Island woman urged senators Tuesday to ease bankruptcy rules for people devastated by medical debt, as she described the pain of losing a child and going broke from his health care bills.

Congress sends to president a bill that extends hate crime protections to gays. Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alabama lawmakers blasted the Pentagon's bidding rules for a multibillion dollar contract to replace the Air Force's aerial refueling fleet, saying the procedure unfairly favors Boeing.

Analysis: Democrats have short memory in accusing GOP of stalling Obama judges. Ten months into Barack Obama's presidency, Democrats are accusing Republicans of creating "a dark mark on the Senate" by delaying confirmation of his federal court nominees.

Senate confirmation tips once-conservative Richmond appeals court to Democrats. The Senate gave President Barack Obama a major victory Monday in his efforts to remake the federal courts, confirming a judge who will tip the political balance on the once-conservative appeals court based in Richmond.

US Attorney General Eric Holder Monday named a prosecutor to probe claims CIA interrogators abused terror suspects, unleashing a new wave of political fury over Bush-era war on terror tactics.

A deeply divided US Senate began a contentious debate on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination as the first Hispanic justice and third woman to serve on the US Supreme Court.

A deeply divided US Senate began a contentious debate on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination as the first Hispanic justice and third woman to serve on the US Supreme Court.

A self-professed lover of policy, Al Franken relishes opportunity to get to work in the Senate. Just weeks into his Senate term, Al Franken's portfolio compares favorably to any of the Senate's freshman members. He loves policy. He has signed on as co-sponsor to a half dozen bills, asked thoughtful questions of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, and immersed himself in a thorny debate over health care reform.

But when the legislative skirmishing was over, his fellow senators recalled, Kennedy never held a grudge and knew the difference between an adversary and an enemy. And, they noted, he had nearly as many close friends among Republicans as he did among his Democratic allies. A day after President Obama invoked Kennedy's memory in a forceful address on health care before a joint session of Congress, however, some tributes to Kennedy were tinged with politics. Several Democrats echoed the call to fulfill Kennedy's vision of accessible, affordable care, while Republicans mourned him as perhaps the last Democrat willing to negotiate with them in good faith on difficult legislation. Still, nearly all lionized a man they described as a one-of-a-kind lawmaker, a Senate legend whose good humor, leadership, selflessness, and encyclopedic knowledge of the chamber in which he served for nearly half a century may never be replaced. ``The impact he etched into our history will long endure,'' Senate D