Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1773133/posts
Judge: Lawyer Leaked Padilla Transcripts
AP via SFGate ^ | 1/24/7 | CURT ANDERSON
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 ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hamtramck
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Off Topic:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS05/701240420/1007/NEWS
Metro Detroit
HAMTRAMCK
"She'll keep veil in new hearing"
January 24, 2007
BY ZACHARY GORCHOW
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Ginnnah Muhammad, the Muslim who lost her small-claims case in Hamtramck's 31st District Court in October because she refused a judge's order to remove her veil while testifying, has been granted a new hearing."