COERCION? UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS? NO EVIDENCE? WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Federal Victory in Terror Case May Prove Brief, Experts Say

LOS ANGELES, April 26 — Despite predictions that their victory might not hold up on appeal, federal prosecutors on Wednesday savored their victory in a Sacramento courtroom, where a jury a day earlier convicted an American born in Pakistan of providing support to a terrorist group and lying to investigators.

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But legal experts said the prosecution's celebration might be short-lived because a federal appeals court had twice ruled unconstitutional some aspects of the law on which Mr. Hayat was convicted. They also said Mr. Hayat's reported confessions to F.B.I. agents could be challenged on the ground they were coerced from a frightened suspect with a limited command of English.

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The government never presented evidence that Mr. Hayat had participated in or planned any terrorist act.

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