[JURIST] The sentencing of convicted terrorism conspirator Jose Padilla [JURIST news archive] will be delayed until January, according to US federal court officials cited by AP Tuesday. Sentencing hearings that were due to begin this week were rescheduled due to a death in the family of US District Judge Marcia Cooke [official profile]. Padilla was convicted in August along with Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi [profiles] of conspiracy to commit illegal violent acts outside the US, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, and providing material support to terrorists. The sentencing hearing could result in up to life in prison for Padilla.

Padilla, a US citizen, was arrested in 2002 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and subsequently detained as an "enemy combatant" [JURIST news archive] at a Navy military brig in Charleston, South Carolina. Initially alleged to have planned the explosion of a "dirty bomb" in the United States, Padilla went from enemy combatant to criminal defendant when he was finally charged with other offenses in November 2005. Padilla was transferred to civilian custody [JURIST report] in January 2006. AP has more.