Two main counts against Lynne Stewart dismissed

[Jack Rabbit]

From Associated Press
Dated Tuesday July 22

Judge dismisses two top counts in terror indictment
By Larry Neumesiter, AP writer

A judge dismissed the two main terror counts against a civil rights lawyer and her co-defendants Tuesday, saying charges they conspired to support a terrorism organization were unconstitutionally vague.
U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl left intact charges that attorney Lynne Stewart and the others conspired to defraud the United States and that Stewart made false statements.
"It certainly is a great relief," Stewart said of the ruling. "It's also wonderful to know that the case maybe has opened a way for the use of this law to be circumscribed, curtailed a little bit."
U.S. Attorney James B. Comey said in a statement that he still believes the 1996 law prohibiting material support for terrorism is constitutional, and that an appeal is possible.

Read more. It's a small victory for civil liberties over the dark forces of Ashcroft and his minions.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. It is a small victory albeit possibly temporary

but the case itself raises many questions as does the law. Too much is left to subjective interpretation. One wonders how the SC will deal with it if it gets that far.

[bemildred]

2. I'll take it.

Never give an inch.

[NYC]

3. I heard the government will appeal.

I can't remember where I heard that.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

Stewart said she expects prosecutors to appeal. "I can't imagine they're just going to let it slide away."

Edit: Fixed punctuation.

[DUreader]

4. tidbits of good news

[Barry_Goldwater]

5. All Hail

the Victory for freedom!

[Julien Sorel]

6. Maybe we've seen the high watermark

of anti-terrorism paranoia, and people are starting to reason again. I don't think this ruling would have happened a year ago.