Big Law leaders defend Guantanamo lawyers

Keep America Safe, an organization launched by former Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter Liz Cheney, has presented a video questioning the loyalty of a group of Justice Department lawyers who previously acted for Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Attorney General Eric Holder is criticized for not releasing the names of the lawyers, called "The Al Qaeda Seven” in the video. Several Big Law lawyers are now fighting back against the criticism, including Brian Brooks, managing partner of O’Melveny & Myers' Washington office, Carter Phillips, the D.C. managing partner of Sidley Austin, Michael DeSanctis, managing partner of Jenner & Block's Washington office, and Thomas Milch, chair of Arnold & Porter. “From the perspective of our firm, providing representation for unpopular causes is a long and noble tradition in the law, and that kind of criticism is not going to affect our firm’s commitment to that cause”, Brian Brooks said, according to the LegalTimes Blog.

Big Law leaders defend Guantanamo lawyers legaltimes.typepad.com Sat, Mar 6, 2010