Lynne Stewart, Dying Lawyer Convicted of Supporting Terrorism, Denied Compassionate Release

[hrmjustin]

By Raillan Brooks

After a hard-fought battle with the Bureau of Prisons, Brooklyn lawyer Lynne Stewart lost her bid for a compassionate release from jail. The 73-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer even before she was jailed in 2009, and her condition continued to deteriorate.

Manhattan Federal Judge John Koeltl dumped the request, saying that further imprisonment while suffering from metastatic cancer did not rise to the level of cruel and unusual punishment.

The Voice has followed this story since Stewart first went to trial in 2005. She was convicted for carrying messages out of prison for Omar Abdel-Rahman, otherwise known as "The Blind Sheikh," issuing press releases on his behalf. Abdel-Rahman was in prison for the 1993 plotted assassination attempt of then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Stewart called continued imprisonment barbaric in a statement she released to the New York City Anarchist Black Cross when she first filed the request, calling herself a "political prisoner."

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2013/08/lynne_stewart_d.php

[zazen]

1. may she find peace and strength in spite of these monsters

through the God of her understanding or whatever inner lights guide her.

I honestly don't know how those who inflict this on her sleep at night--how they rationalize what they're doing, when so many thieving white collar criminals who've brought misery to millions go free.

[hrmjustin]

2. I hope she finds peace as well. There is no reason why she couldn't be allowed to go home.

[bvar22]

3. How does

How does "Manhattan Federal Judge John Koeltl dumped the request"
sleep at night?

I have been informed that between 6% and 10% of the population is unable to experience "empathy", the ability to stand in some else's shoes.

I think the 6% - 10% estimate is way low.



You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[hrmjustin]

4. Maybe they can appeal.

[enough]

5. Apparently the judge left open the possiblity of "compassionate release."

snip from the article>

Despite her oncologist writing to the court on her behalf, Judge Koeltl dismissed the request on constitutional grounds, noting that if Stewart wanted a compassionate release, she should have filed for one explicitly. Koeltl wrote in his decision that "A court lacks authority to reduce a sentence of imprisonment under the compassionate release statute unless a motion is filed by the director of the BOP."

Though he did leave the door open for a future request. "The Court would give prompt and sympathetic consideration to any motion for compassionate release filed by the BOP, but it is for the BOP to make that motion in the first instance."

snip>

[hrmjustin]

6. Thanks for the clarrification.

[ck4829]

7. But yet Eric Rudolph and Scott Roeder can MAIL letters to their victims, I don't get it