As an article in today's NYT makes clear, the contitutional right of legal representation is under further attack
Write to your lawyer friends. Especially those who are partners. I did.
This is a letter that I wrote:
XXX,
This seriously upsets me.
And I should think that any American and every lawyer should be outraged.
This is as direct and bald-faced an attack on our legal values as I've seen (well, breaking FISA laws are pretty direct, but this has a different kind of quality).
Do you agree?
XXX, you are a lawyer. You are a partner at a law firm. A significant law firm, I might add. I have no idea if your firm represents Guantánamo detainees or not and if so to what extent.
XXX, you are in a position to do something. In my opinion, you and your firm as a whole need to make the case publicly to start or to increase your pro-bono work for Guantánamo detainees.
If you have at all internalized US Constitutional values, the articles below will make you sick.
I've never written to you such a serious letter. If you think I am somehow wrong or off-base, let me know. If my suggestion to you makes you uncomfortable, I cannot help that.
If I am being presumptuous, I think this topic is important enough to trump this.
I think you have a real responsibility in this.
Please let me know your thoughts.
==
Official Attacks Top Law Firms Over Detainees
http://www.nytimes.com/...
and
Round Up the Usual Lawyers:
http://www.nytimes.com/...