Here's a statement released by 130 Deans of Law from prominent American Universities:

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"We, the undersigned law deans, are appalled by the January 11, 2007 statement of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles "Cully" Stimson, criticizing law firms for their pro bono representation of suspected terrorist detainees and encouraging corporate executives to force these law firms to choose between their pro bono and paying clients.

"As law deans and professors, we find Secretary Stimson’s statement to be contrary to basic tenets of American law. We teach our students that lawyers have a professional obligation to ensure that even the most despised and unpopular individuals and groups receive zealous and effective legal representation. Our American legal tradition has honored lawyers who, despite their personal beliefs, have zealously represented mass murderers, suspected terrorists, and Nazi marchers. At this moment in time, when our courts have endorsed the right of the Guantanamo detainees to be heard in courts of law, it is critical that qualified lawyers provide effective representation to these individuals. By doing so, these lawyers protect not only the rights of the detainees, but also our shared constitutional principles. In a free and democratic society, government officials should not encourage intimidation of or retaliation against lawyers who are fulfilling their pro bono obligations.

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Pretending to be law-abiding while trying to make sure no one can have a lawyer to help gain those rights is an old trick; it used to be the policy in the Argentine and Chilean dictatorships, for example.

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"Regrettably, my comments left the impression that I question the integrity of those engaged in the zealous defense of detainees in Guantanamo. I do not," Stimson wrote in response to the furor over his remarks.

"I apologize for what I said and to those lawyers and law firms who are representing clients at Guantanamo. I hope that my record of public service makes clear that those comments do not reflect my core beliefs," he wrote.

Stimson, himself a lawyer, also said he supports pro bono work and believes the legal system works best when both sides have competent legal counsel.

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This guy is an embarassment and should resign - either voluntarily or with great encouragement.

Big deal.

He was encouraging corporations to punish lawyers who dare to defend the pariahs he is holding at Guantanamo.

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Bush's attack on lawyers is the latest assault on our civil liberties, which now includes warrantless surveillance of our phone calls and email, and most recently, our US Mail. Although Bush says he's spying on the terrorists, those who criticize his policies, including his illegal and immoral war on Iraq, are also invariably in his cross hairs.

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Originally posted by jeff house:
So, in his apology, he says that he wasn't questioning the lawyers' integrity.

Big deal.

He was encouraging corporations to punish lawyers who dare to defend the pariahs he is holding at Guantanamo.

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Here is part of the "Federal News Radio" interview with Stimson [wma audio file]. The comments in question start exactly 3 minutes in.

Notice how he gets a completely free ride from the interviewers. The follow-up questioner does not challenge the unspoken premises that the detainees must all be guilty, that they have no right to legal counsel, and that any lawyers who dare to represent them should be subject to reprisals. No, the follow-up question is this: "Clearly the attorneys who are representing the terrorist detainees, they are being paid by someone... there must be an organization that is funding this representation, who is that?"

[ 17 January 2007: Message edited by: Albireo ]