21.   After all sides have a chance to file briefs, the high court will review the question and probably decide sometime next year whether to consider the appeal.

22.   Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, whose office opposed the move, is considering an appeal.

23.   Both defense and prosecution now have one week to consider appeals.

24.   But both sides have said they are considering an appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

25.   But Litan, director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institute, suggested that the Justice Department might consider an appeal as a stalling tactic, in essence.

26.   But Riggs was unable to convince four of the nine justices to consider his appeal, as court rules require.

27.   By refusing to consider the appeal, the justices left the lower-court ruling intact.

28.   Cherkasky suggested that it would take three weeks for an appellate officer to consider appeals on his ruling.

29.   Costa Rica is still considering the appeal.

30.   Defense lawyers want the state Supreme Court to overturn all the convictions against the three men, but the court has not yet decided whether to consider that appeal.