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elleng

(130,945 posts) Tue Dec 31, 2013, 03:49 PM Dec 2013

U.S. Seeks Release of Dying Lawyer Convicted of Aiding Terrorism.

Source: nyt/reuters

The U.S. government on Tuesday asked a federal judge to grant Lynne Stewart, a former defense lawyer convicted of aiding terrorism, a "compassionate" release from prison because she is dying of cancer.

Stewart, 74, has been serving a 10-year sentence over her 2005 conviction for helping a client, blind Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, smuggle messages from prison to Egypt's Islamic Group, which the U.S. government had listed as a terrorist organization.

Earlier this year, Stewart had asked U.S. District Judge John Koeltl in Manhattan for early release under a Federal Bureau of Prisons program for terminally ill inmates.

Koeltl denied that request on August 9, noting that the bureau had not supported it, but said he would give "prompt and sympathetic consideration" if the bureau changed its mind.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/12/31/us/31reuters-usa-lawyer-stewart.html?hp&_r=0

3 replies

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U.S. Seeks Release of Dying Lawyer Convicted of Aiding Terrorism. (Original Post) elleng Dec 2013 OP

Grant the request. Don't wait for the bureau. mahannah Dec 2013 #1

Absolutely! onwardsand upwards Dec 2013 #2

Dying defense lawyer Lynne Stewart ordered released Eugene Dec 2013 #3

mahannah

(893 posts)

1. Grant the request. Don't wait for the bureau.

Reply to elleng (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 04:00 PM

Dec 2013

onwardsand upwards

(276 posts)

2. Absolutely!

Reply to mahannah (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 07:09 PM

Dec 2013

This is a case of humanity tangled up in barbed wire red tape.

Have mercy!!!

Eugene

(61,899 posts)

3. Dying defense lawyer Lynne Stewart ordered released

Reply to elleng (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 09:28 PM

Dec 2013

Source: CNN

Dying defense lawyer Lynne Stewart ordered released

By Ray Sanchez, CNN
January 1, 2014 -- Updated 0019 GMT (0819 HKT)

(CNN) -- A federal judge ordered the "compassionate release" Tuesday of a former defense lawyer imprisoned for aiding a convicted terrorist's communication from prison to his terrorist group.

U.S. District Judge John Koeltl granted a motion filed by federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reduce the sentence of outspoken lawyer Lynne Stewart, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010.

Stewart's "terminal medical condition and very limited life expectancy constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons that warrant the requested reduction," Koeltl wrote in his order.

"...It is further ordered that the defendant shall be released from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons as soon as her medical condition permits, the release plan is implemented and travel arrangements can be made."

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