Gothamist: Terrorist Lawyer Lynne Stewart Found Guilty

Captain Obvious

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 12:36:56 -0500

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.

Chester Katz

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 12:29:10 -0500

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.

HearseeNyC

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 12:22:16 -0500

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.

Michael Rubin

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:50:53 -0500

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.

S.D.

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:17:25 -0500

According to the NY Times article: "She received a statement from the sheik and on June 14 called a reporter in Cairo and read him the statement." 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?

beth

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 10:23:48 -0500

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.

Jen

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 08:59:10 -0500

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.

HR

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 08:58:55 -0500

"some of us are nice". We know, but "most" of you aren't.

Laren

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 08:41:06 -0500

Hey -- watch what you say about locking up lawyers. Some of us are nice, and are do-gooders too!