An Apology to Detainees' Attorneys

The Washington Post ^ | 1/17/06 | Cully Stimson

[steve-b]

...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.

I believe firmly that a foundational principle of our legal system is that the system works best when both sides are represented by competent legal counsel. I support pro bono work, as I said in the interview. I was a criminal defense attorney in two of my three tours in the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. I zealously represented unpopular clients -- people charged with crimes that did not make them, or their attorneys, popular in the military. I believe that our justice system requires vigorous representation.

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.

CULLY STIMSON
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs
Defense Department
Washington

[TChris]

...my comments left the impression that I question the integrity of those engaged in the zealous defense of detainees in Guantanamo. I do not.

I do.

Attorneys who cannot or will not understand and respect the difference between American civil or criminal law and wartime (martial) law ought to find another profession. In a war, the painstaking, laborious and agonizingly slow wheels of American justice have no place.

Deal with it.

[magslinger]

The integrity of the detainees' attorneys has never been questioned.
It's never even been mentioned.

[NonValueAdded]

Does a zealous defense include getting a criminal off for a crime that was obviously committed or is it simply ensuring that a far and impartial process is followed, that the rights of the defendant are protected, and that the sentence is not cruel and unusual? The latter is what we need and the former is accessory-after-the-fact in my book.

[Thrownatbirth]

Proof of the further dhimmification of Defense.

[subterfuge]

Well then Cully, off with your head!!!

[lilylangtree]

Attorneys in general are ambulance chasers. The attorneys represening the terrorists at Gitmo aren't any exceptions.

[bfree]

The words "integrity" and "detainee's attorneys" shouldn't even appear in the same article.

[pnh102]

What a disgraceful letter. Anyone, ANYONE, who opines that the defense attorneys for the scum at Gitmo are anything other than dirty traitors should have no place in a wartime administration.

The only reason we are not winning this war is because we are NOT questioning the patriotism and loyalty of those in this country who are doing their best to help the enemy.

[Jim Noble]

I believe that our justice system requires vigorous representation.

But why do you believe that the enemies at Gitmo are PARTIES TO our justice system, when they obviously are not?