Legal Ethics -

Columbia University is not alone in its love of free perverse speech. Hofstra University Law School is sponsoring a "Legal Ethics" Conference entitled "Lawyering at the Edge: Unpopular Clients, Difficult Cases, Zealous Advocates" Among the luminaries pontificating on legal ethics will be Lynne Stewart, best known for her conviction for providing material support for terrorists. She was sentenced to 28 months for the ethical transmission of terrorism orders from her client, sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to blow up five New York landmarks and assassinate Egypt's president. She was automatically disbarred for this conviction and she considers herself a martyr. I am not a lawyer. However I think I know what it means to be an accessory to a crime. Frankly, I see nothing but a lack of ethics in her case.

Every defendant regardless of crime is entitled to adequate legal representation. But, an attorney is only representing and acting on behalf of their client before the courts of which they are sworn officers. They do not have a responsibility or right to commit or even sanction further criminal acts on behalf of their client.

This is example of behavior that causes me to hold lawyers in general with such contempt. Her behavior was as ethical as Hitler's was humanitarian. Yet, she is hailed as an expert on legal ethics. Perhaps she should go and spend some time with sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman's associates and see how well she fares. Better yet, maybe she could just strap on some plastic explosives for the cause if she feels so strongly.



http://www.hofstra.edu/Home/News/PressReleases/091807_ethicsconference.html