Judge: Lawyer Leaked Padilla Transcripts

[struggle4progress]

Thursday January 25, 2007 12:01 AM
By CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) - ... U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ordered all defense lawyers in the case to sign papers indicating they understood and .... also said she might hold in contempt anyone who receives such prohibited material, and she specifically mentioned several reporters attending Wednesday's hearing ...

The transcripts are not classified but were covered under Cooke's order barring disclosure ...

Padilla, 36, is accused along with two others of being part of a North American cell that provided cash, supplies and recruits to Islamic extremist causes worldwide. Padilla, a U.S. citizen, was accused after his 2002 arrest of being on an al-Qaida mission to detonate a radioactive ``dirty bomb'' in a major U.S. city, but those allegations are not part of the Miami case ...

Padilla and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. Trial is scheduled to begin April 16, and that could hinge on whether Padilla is found competent. His lawyers say he is suffering mental problems stemming from his long, isolated military confinement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6369222,00.html

[Igel]

1. There's one more thing that should have been leaked.

"The leaker was identified in a sealed court filing to Cooke, but it was not made public and none of the lawyers would name the person responsible."

[The Stranger]

3. I find your post extremely alarming.

You are trying to expose the identity of an attorney who was brave enough to show to the light of the day evidence of a torturing, Totalitarian government at work, and this miscarriage of law and justice?

[Igel]

4. I'd expose the name of a lawyer

who violated his oath, and who should have been aware of the consequences of divulging information that should be kept confidential. The judge and jury would hear the information, and, well, it's up to them to make the decision about Padilla ... not to have the trial run in the press. Now, if the attorney were saying the judge and jury were corrupt, that would be a different matter; but that's not what he said, at least not yet (but you can bet your bippy it's coming).

It would be a trivial matter for Padilla to make a statement with precisely the same content and have it released to the press.

[The Stranger]

5. That lawyer has sworn to uphold the Constitution, and that oath is far more important for the public

for us, and for the life of the Republic, than anything a court may say, which may change from one day to the next. The people have to know, and there are far greater things at work here, and far greater obligations placed upon those who know, than the minutiae you seem to focus on.

[maxsolomon]

2. Jose Padilla is being tortured & his rights denied

the judge should dismiss all charges & free him because the government has violated habeas corpus for 5 years.