1.   Earle has drawn three opponents this year, two in his own Democratic primary and a Republican former prosecutor.

2.   Kerry and Weld are both scrappy former prosecutors who have shown in past campaigns that they can fight hard.

3.   Working with Mr Sablosky as investigative counsel was William Callahan, a former federal prosecutor.

4.   Although a former Mexico City prosecutor, Herran comes to the institute with less than two years experience in law-enforcement and no experience in fighting drug trafficking.

5.   Among those booked are Bill Bonanno, author and son of crime boss Joe Bonanno, and former Mafia prosecutor Pat Cotter.

6.   And Collins, the former federal prosecutor, noted that the IRS sees nothing funny about refusal to pay income taxes.

7.   And now even some former prosecutors agree that the villain is faceless.

8.   And political scientists, government watchdogs and former prosecutors are divided on whether the current crop of allegations constitutes anything heavier than mere coincidence.

9.   Another former prosecutor agreed.

10.   Another judge mentioned as a possible choice is Joel M. Flaum, a federal appeals court judge in Chicago and a former federal prosecutor.