LAW AND ORDER

Boston Triggers Post-9/11 Legal Issues

Obama describes bombings as an act of "terrorism."

Were the bombings Sunday a crime or an act of terror? Will prosecutors seek the death penalty? Those are among the host of questions and legal issues raised by the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in a post-Sept. 11 society. Federal authorities are preparing a criminal complaint against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, including the use of weapons of mass destruction. But the decision to seek the death penalty—which Massachusetts does not have—must be made by Attorney General Eric Holder. Three local residents were killed in the bombing and an MIT police officer was killed in a Friday gun battle with the suspects. Meanwhile, plans to question the Boston Marathon bombing suspect for a period without first reading him the Miranda warning of his right to remain silent and have a lawyer present has revived a constitutional debate on terrorism cases.