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Chicago Lawyers Caught Between Clients and Country
By JAMES WARREN
April 7, 2011
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It’s frustrating for Chicago lawyers who have labored pro bono for years to defend detainees. Most are from mainstream, corporate firms. All with whom I spoke were 2008 supporters of Mr. Obama; each is annoyed with him over Guantánamo.
Lowell Sachnoff, Thomas Sullivan, Matthew O’Hara, Patricia Bronte, Candace Gorman and Mr. Colman are among those who have regularly hopped a puddle jumper from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a three-hour flight to Guantánamo. There, they endure frequent searches and pat-downs, forbidden even to have a paper clip, staple or rubber band affixed to documents in a client’s presence.
Very broad security classification means that, even back in the office, the lawyers can’t discuss much with any colleague lacking a security clearance. If that colleague does have clearance, the two must go to a room, close the door and shut the blinds.
If lawyers write a brief referencing classified information, they cannot type a single word in Chicago. Instead, they must fly to Washington, go to a secure building — none would identify it for me — and write it on classified government computers.
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