[lbo-talk] Lynne Stewart speaks

jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net
Mon Feb 14 17:40:41 PST 2005



> Interesting propositions by Stewart:
>
> 1. Her case should now be the core of left politics.
>
> 2. Her conviction is evidence of fascism, which, it now turns out, has
> always been the problem.
>
> 3. Her breaking of the gag order helped her client and was just perfectly
> fine legally speaking.
>
> 4. Like Churchill, she has nothing to apologize to the left for.
>
> Michael Dawson

Why are you hostile towards Stewart? I've been reading a bit about this case this weekend since I knew practically nothing about it before now and it seems like a terrible misjustice to sentence this woman to prison for the minor infraction she perpetrated. In a different time and different set of circumstance I MIGHT question the merits of her violation but not right now. Since I'm not a lawyer I don't feel qualified to make much of a determination on her decision anyway. What percentage of gag orders are violated and what are the consequences generally? This case seems to be analogous to imprisoning someone for 20 years for running a red light. Hardly a case of justice regardless of guilt.

Every lawyer I know has been bowled over by this. I don't think it's a case of lawyers sticking up for each other either. I think they are genuinely shocked that this punishment far exceeds anything ever metered out for a similar offense.

John Thornton



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list