Posted on 01/24/2007 3:04:04 PM PST by SmithL
A lawyer for suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla violated a court order by leaking his wiretapped phone conversations, a judge found Wednesday while not imposing a penalty.
Instead, U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ordered all defense lawyers in the case to sign papers indicating they understood and would follow rules barring disclosure of certain evidence.
Cooke also said she might hold in contempt anyone who receives such prohibited material, and she specifically mentioned several reporters attending Wednesday's hearing.
"The lash is about to fall on all," Cooke said. "We're going to have a trial, as much as possible as we can, a trial on the evidence, and not on anything else."
The leaked transcripts documented seven telephone conversations on which Padilla's voice is heard that were intercepted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Defense lawyers have said that Padilla is never overheard discussing any violent acts and that many of the conversations involve family matters, casting doubt on the strength of the government's case.
The transcripts are not classified but were covered under Cooke's order barring disclosure.
Michael Caruso, one of three Miami-based public defenders on Padilla's defense team, acknowledged that one of them was responsible for providing the material to The New York Times, which published the story Jan. 4.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The IDIOT judge did not levy a PENALTY for this???? WHY THE HELL NOT??
Hello?! Penalties are for Republicans, not for traitorous lawyers. Where've you been?
The Times at it again!
Now boys..........
Judge Marcia Cooke to her kids: If you're not in bed by the time I count to ten . . .
SNIP
Judge Marcia Cooke to her kids: Nine and a half, nine and three quarters . . .
SNIP
Judge Marcia Cooke to her kids: If I have to come in there, you're gonna be in trouble . . .
ETC.
Right....I need to get my mind right.
Slap these scumbags with a contempt of court citation and throw their butts in jail.
This is outrageous - you don't need to have them sign a doc after the fact, judge, you need to PUNISH them for what they have already done in contempt of your authority and the law.
"What was the point? It was clearly calculated to influence the jury of public opinion and try this case there," Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Frazier said. "It was a deliberate violation."Uhuh. And a federal prosecutor would never do something like that! Arggh, pots, kettles, all black, spare me the show of moral outrage.
Oh you left out, that are defending terrorists.
In late April 1969, as a brand new and untrained Deputy Sheriff for L.A. County I was working in the "new" central jail guarding a cell block full of convicted murderers from San Quentin's death row.
Two of these animals named Powell and Smith had their attorney convince a judge they should have a typewriter in their cell to assist in their death penalty appeal.
On the day their atty. delivered their typewriter, another deputy in the front of the jail gave the typewriter a very, very thorough exam. He discovered a loaded gun cleverly hidden in the typewriter (which saved my life).
The two killers were made famous by Joseph Wambaugh's book and subsequent movie "the Onino Field". That was my first exposure to the legal "profession", and the "justice" system.
NOTHING was done to the atty, and that was the highest point in my opinon of the "legal" profession, and "justice" system
Its not like these guys are lawyers and understand the law.
Well, it seems to me that judges are always afraid of sanctioning defense lawyers. If they do, it's grounds for a mistrial or appeal.
Of course, adding insult to injury by trying to tell the judge that leaking to the NYT is an accidental oversight doesn't help things either.
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