Reply #77: Thorough and excellent op ed by a Ledger reporter about the Esq. ...

[madfloridian]

and why they should back off about it. He even uses the word persecute.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110424/COLUMNISTS0308/104245006?p=all&tc=pgall

Those who think she deserved that jail time need to read this. Take the time, please. These are her rights that are being taken away.

"HEAVY-HANDEDNESS

It certainly is no reason for arrest. Nor would it excuse the sort of arrest procedures described by www.atheistsofflorida.org. The website says that, on March 3, more than "a dozen sheriff's deputies and other law-enforcement officials, many garbed in SWAT-style paramilitary gear, descended on her home in unmarked vehicles, arrested Ms. Wachs and searched her home. Two bearded officials in SWAT gear held her two retail employees at gunpoint, and for several hours unidentified agents proceeded to systematically tear apart her house, including searching her cars and employees' cars, and belongings. Agents seized Wachs' personal and business computers, cell phone, documents and other items."

Lawyers who expound upon cases of public interest find Wachs' arrest troubling.

Locally, lawyer Kemp Brinson of Winter Haven wrote on www.polklawblog.com that he sees two reasons for Wachs using Esq. in her signature: "The first one is, you want those people to think that you are a licensed lawyer. The second one is, you want people to know that you have some legal knowledge and therefore aren't to be trifled with."

He quotes Jonathan Turley:

"Nationally, legal scholar Jonathan Turley wrote on www.jonathanturley.org that "I find it highly disturbing to see the simple use of esquire as the grounds for an action. I do not view the term as denoting a practicing lawyer in and of itself."

He added: "The context here could not be more disturbing, given Wachs' involvement in an unpopular exercise of free speech. To combine that context with such a weak basis for a charge of unauthorized practice raises flags of retaliatory action."