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New York lawyer Lynne Stewart was convicted of federal charges that she aided terrorist Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman in his activities yesterday. Stewart, a well-known "radical" lawyer, was accused of smuggling messages to the imprisoned Rahman's followers and lying to the authorities about the extent of her actions. The trial lasted three months, and deliberations ran two weeks. Stewart is going to appeal the verdict. She cried on the steps of the courthouse, and said, "I hope this will be a wake-up call to all the citizens of this country, that you can't lock up the lawyers, you can't tell the lawyers how to do their jobs." Hmm, that might be the precise problem that many people have with lawyers - that they can't be locked up.
Newsday has reactions from a number of city lawyers, most of whom believe this will make lawyers think twice about who they defend. And as to be expected, the Post brands Lynne Stewart the terror traitor.
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Hey -- watch what you say about locking up lawyers. Some of us are nice, and are do-gooders too!
"some of us are nice".
We know, but "most" of you aren't.
Aw, Laren, you know I love lawyers. But there's a huge perception problem, and when laymen hear "lawyer helped terrorists," it doesn't help things.
It's not a perception problem or a question of niceness: Stewart's defense, and her reaction to the verdict, amount to an assertion that she is above the law. I respect the spirit of her efforts, but how would people react if Ashcroft claimed a "bubble" privilege as Stewart did? As for her argument that no violence resulted from her actions--well, Richard Reid could say the same thing.
According to the NY Times article:
It seems to me that she was playing with fire and got burned. I'm sorry she's going to jail, but she apparently agreed to abide by those terms and didn't. I wonder what the basis of her appeal will be?
I hope she rots away in her prison cell.
Perhaps she thinks she was sending innocuous messages-but those very messages could be triggers for terrorist activities. Her client had barrels of blood on her hands...
Her reaction that she is above the law only goes to show how dangerous and intoxicated with her position she is.
The "Above the law" comments are right on the money (especially Beth's). Lynne Stewart is completely out of line and in this case, justice prevailed.
Reminds me of this episode of Law & Order. The defense attorney is found to be sending messages on behalf of her white-supremacist client, which results in another murder.
I was actually somewhat sympathetic to Lynn Stewart until she said "you can't lock up lawyers". Give us all a break. You might work as a servant to the law, but you are not above the law.
That semi-sociopathic mentality of some lawyers is the number one reason people can't stand lawyers. And I'm glad she's getting punished for this.
Oh, anyone taking bets on how long before the words "chilling effect" are used in relation to this case? I think of all of the anti-terror cases around, this is the most just and most deserving of justice, but I'm sure some people will get their panties all in a bunch about this issue.
Nobody is above the law. Period.