[Puppage]

Hale had made threats. Yeah, it was a reasonable assumption in the absence of other evidence

I am sure a lot of people who stood before the judge made threats. Hale was tossed out there because of what he represents, IMHO. Joe Schmo wouldn't elicit that kind of media frenzy.

[hchutch]

But Matthew Hale and his bunch already had a reputation for violence (remember Benjamin Smith?). Knowing what I know about Hale, it was prudent to place his bunch at the top of the list.