"We'd like to build our evidence, our case, " Mahoney said.

CNN: Man charged in hiker's death suspected in other cases

"This equipment is on board all our flights in case an incident like this arises, " he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

And, far from being able to render definitive judgments on law of the sea matters like those raised by the Exxon Valdez case, our justices may hereafter be reduced to serving as little more than bailiffs for their international betters, enforcing edicts handed down from Hamburg or The Hague.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: LOST justice?