Plaintiffs
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Church of Scientology:  A religious organization, recognized as a 
  (tax-exempt) religion by the IRS.  Recognized as a religion in some other 
  countries, and outright illegal in yet other countries.  Critics label it a 
  cult, and allege many criminal acts, including rape and murder. Adherents 
  claim this is lies and that Scientology is a peaceful religion whose 
  purpose is to free the world from something akin to demonic spirits 
  ("body thetans"), and to prevent a nuclear war.  CoS was founded by 
  science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.  CoS International, OSA, Bridge 
  Publications, and Religious Technology Center are various branches and 
  subsidiaries of the church, involved in testifying in, or (in the case 
  of Bridge and  RTC) in the filing of complaints and motions in and the 
  actual litigation of, the cases at hand.


Defendants
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Washington Post: A District of Columbia newspaper

Richard Leiby: A Wash. Post reporter

Marc Fisher: Another Post employee.

'Fight Against Coercive Tactics' Network (FACTnet): An anti-cult group 
   founded by several former Scientologists, among others.

Lawrence (Larry) Wollersheim: A FACTnet director.

Robert (Bob) Penny: A FACTnet director.

Arnaldo (Arnie) Lerma: A FACTnet director.

DGS (Digital Gateway Systems): Lerma's Internet access provider.

Dennis Erlich: A former CoS proselytizer turned critic.

Tom Klemesrud: system operator of a BBS (Clearwood Data Services, a.k.a. 
   SUPPORT.COM, a.k.a. LAVCBBS - Los Angeles Valley College Bulletin Board 
   System) used by Erlich for minimal Internet/Usenet access.


Netcom On-Line Communications Services: Internet access provider for 
   Klemesrud (and therefore, ultimately, Erlich).

Steven Fishman - former Scientologist who committed crimes for the Church, 
   then turned against CoS in court.  Included several CoS docs in a 
   declaration, which were in unsealed court records for some time.
   Other than the relevance of the CoS docs that were in his declaration, 
   Fishman has nothing to do with the current cases.

Uwe Geertz - Fishman's psychiatrist and co-defendant. Not relevant to the 
   current cases.


Judges
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Babcock, Dist. of Colorado - issued the TRO and writ of seizure against
   FACTNET, Wollersheim and Penny.  Turned over the case to Judge Kane.

Leonie Brinkema, Eastern Dist. of Virginia - Same story as Whyte, but in re:
   Lerma and Wash. Post defendants.  Issued, then rescinded TROs and writs
   of seizure, denied CoS motions for restraint, and denied them vehemently
   in the case of the Post defendants.  Accuses CoS of "unclean hands" in 
   a "dirty" search.

John L. Kane Jr., Senior District Judge, Dist. of Colorado - Rescinded 
   Babcock's orders, will (probably) be handling the case-at-large, 
   enjoined defendants to use the CoS docs only in a fair use manner
   (which is the law anyway), and denied CoS motions for restraining orders.

Ronald M. Whyte, Northern Dist. of California - Issued, and later rescinded 
   TRO and writ of seizure against Erlich, and TROs against Netcom and 
   Klemesrud. Also permitted fair use, and denied CoS restraint motions, 
   as well as CoS motions for sanctions against Erlich's attorneys.  Will 
   (probably) be handling the larger case of Erlich, Netcom and 
   Klemesrud, barring some unexpected change of plans.

Harry L. Hupp, Central Dist. of California - Judge in the Fishman case. 
   Sealed the record containing the CoS docs from the Fishman declaration,
   denied at least one request for those documents. Otherwise not 
   relevant to these cases.

Browning, Farris and Leavy, Circuit Judges, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,
   remanded the decision to seal the CoS docs in in the Fishman declaration
   back down to Judge Hupp's court. Otherwise not relevant to these cases.