Miami -- appears at a juvenile court today.

Russell is one of seven Under-23 players charged with possessing and importing marijuana.

Today's court appearance comes after it emerged the prosecution spent last Friday weighing up the evidence against the "Miami Seven''.

Sworn testimony from potential witnesses, including US Customs officials, was examined during a special conference of US prosecutors.

Last week, Russell's parents flew out to be with him in Dade County, where he is detained at a juvenile centre.

His American lawyer, Mr. H.T. Smith, has expressed "cautious optimism'' the teenager will be free to return to Bermuda by Christmas.

Russell's six Under-23 team-mates -- Meschach Wade, Donnie Charles, Shawn Riley, Herbie Dillas, Kevin Jennings and Keishon Smith -- are at an adults' pre-trial detention centre.

The US Immigration authorities have holds on all seven, preventing them from leaving the country.

But Mr. Smith, president of the National Bar Association in America, is aiming to win permission from US Immigration for the holds to be lifted from his clients.

"We are trying to work through the Immigration maze. This kind of thing takes a little time to work through it,'' he said.

"We are just talking to so many people in Government.'' Last week, $2,500 bail was posted for each of the six adult players. A December 30 court date for them has been set.

The prosecution, meanwhile, have been examining the strength of their evidence against the players who were arrested after successfully qualifying for the Pan-Am Games finals in Jamaica.

A total of about eight pounds of marijuana was found on the players.

On Friday, a "prefiling conference'' was held by the US state attorney's office in Dade County.

The conference was conducted by prosecutor Mr. Tom Wesell, described as a felony screening unit attorney. It was aimed at assessing whether the prosecution should formally file charges at the December 30 hearing.

Chief of the narcotics division of the state attorney's office Mr. David Weinstein said Customs officers who arrested the players at Miami International Airport on December 9 had produced sworn testimony.

"All I can tell you is that we have spoken to the agents who apprehended the players, and are analysing testimony to determine whether to file the charges,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

While the Police had charged the seven, it was for the attorney's office to formally do so in court.

"I am not a liberty to release any facts about the case. I am under an obligation as a prosecutor and lawyer not to say anything which affects the ability to prosecute.

"We are simply going through the procedure to see if there is sufficient evidence to be able to file charges.

"If there is insufficient testimony we will release our hold on them, although there may be other holds on them by Immigration, Customs or border control.'' Mr. Weinstein explained under Florida law the prosecution had 21 days after an arrest to file charges.

"We may or may not. We have to prove the players knowingly, intentionally and feloniously imported drugs.

"It may come to trial and may not. If we are going to file it will be on the 21st day.'' But the prosecution could ask for an extension up to the 45th day after arrest, added Mr. Weinstein.

"I don't anticipate it will come to that.'' Mr. Weinstein said the December 30 arraignment date would see the six older players plead for the first time.

"They will plead guilty, not guilty, or stand mute to the charges.'' It was still unclear, he said, who would be the prosecutor on the day, adding: "I will not necessarily be the in-court lawyer.'' Mr. Weinstein said the legal process for Russell was following a "parallel track'' as that for his team-mates.