Workers Vanguard No. 1021	5 April 2013

A Death Sentence for Defending Her Client?

Lynne Stewart

By Mumia Abu-Jamal

The following was transcribed from a February 21 prisonradio.org recording.

Lynne Stewart, a brilliant, gung-ho trial attorney, has a stellar history that many attorneys would kill for: a defense attorney who truly fights for her clients and, far more often than not, brings them home. She has battled some of the biggest cases in New York history, beating quite a few and beating the government as well. After her representation of Egyptian cleric Omar Abdel Rahman, for daring to speak out publicly in his defense, and delivering a message of his thoughts to the public, she was charged with conspiracy, providing material support to terrorists, convicted, sentenced to—after an appeal—ten years in federal prison, and disbarred.

Lynne, 73, is a breast cancer survivor, and recently the cancer has returned. Her treatment in federal custody is, to say the least, far from optimal. That ten years, increased by order of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals from 28 months, may prove a death sentence for a courageous, principled, and brilliant defense lawyer, who has been a bane to the state since she first walked into a courtroom.

Andrew Napolitano, former judge and conservative Fox TV contributor, has called the Stewart conviction a perverse victory for the Justice Department and a travesty of justice designed to intimidate all lawyers from vigorously advocating for their clients. To find out how you can help win justice for Lynne Stewart, contact: lynnestewart.org.

From imprisoned nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.

©2013 Mumia Abu-Jamal

Sign the petition to free Lynne Stewart at lynnestewart.org. Send donations to: Lynne Stewart Organization, 1070 Dean Street, Brooklyn, New York 11216. Those wishing to correspond can send letters to: Lynne Stewart, #53504-054, Federal Medical Center, Carswell, P.O. Box 27137, Fort Worth, TX 76127.