Hicks trial

[lederhosen]

The judge also decided that Hicks’s civilian lawyer, New York criminal attorney Joshua Dratel could not represent Hicks because he had not signed a form demanded by the court saying he would conform to the regulations governing proceedings.

Mr Dratel protested strongly, saying he could not sign the form because the regulations governing the conduct of attorneys had not yet been formulated by the Secretary of Defence. He was not going to sign a blank cheque for his ethical obligations.

No frickin' wonder Hicks has settled for a plea-bargain. IANAL, but I'd be curious to know what his chances would be of getting that overturned later, by some other court, on grounds of coercion.

Comments

[cheshire-bitten.livejournal.com]

I hope hicks gets time served and comes home, it sucks but I really don't see a better option for it.

[culfinriel.livejournal.com]

Um, shouldn't the judge have made a fuss about stuff before he potentially deprived someone of their right to representation? Or don't you get those (rights), these days.