41.   While free-speech issues are inevitably raised in these cases, the Constitution is not violated when verdicts are rendered to punish conduct and not speech.

42.   Only then is the verdict rendered.

43.   A seven-judge panel was expected to render its verdict in the five-week trial later in the day.

44.   A single judge hears evidence, renders a verdict and imposes a sentence.

45.   A seven-judge panel rendered the verdict in the five-week trial.

46.   A verdict could be rendered as early as next week, court officials said.

47.   After rendering the verdict, the judges read a lengthy explanation of their findings.

48.   Even Judge Ben Posch, who rendered the verdict, thanked Prins for his honesty and apologized for having to drag him into court.

49.   He is expected to resign after the FCC renders its verdict on the merger.

50.   If so, the panel of three judges could still render a verdict in late January, as has been expected all along, after a rescheduled final session.