Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Military Commissions Review resigns civilian position unexpectedly

Is there something more to this story? The timing is curious.

PROVIDENCE — Frank J. Williams, the chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, stunned the legal community and his fellow justices yesterday when he announced that he will step down from the high court at the end of the month...

Williams said he will continue to hear cases after his retirement to make sure that there will be a smooth transition for his successor. He said that he also will continue to mediate other cases in Superior Court, where he served as an associate judge for five years before moving to the high court.

He will also retain his position as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Military Commissions Review, which was formed to hear the appeals of military tribunal cases involving suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay. The court has never met and it is unclear whether it will continue to exist under the Obama administration.

[link to www.projo.com]