Twin Cities Lawyers plan to defend protesters at 2008 Republican Convention

[dflprincess]

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1345568.html

In decades past, Twin Cities protesters were largely represented by a handful of dedicated lawyers in rumpled suits at odds with the establishment.
Next year, thanks to the 2008 Republican National Convention coming to St. Paul, things could be different.

A small armada of corporate attorneys, many of them partners in the area's most prestigious law firms, have begun meeting and strategizing ways to defend thousands of protesters expected to flock to the Twin Cities next September. And not for $500 an hour, but for free.

Pro bono, or volunteer, work is common for attorneys, but observers are impressed by this effort, which was mobilized by the Minnesota affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"This is the first time you have the pinstripe brigade on the protesters' side" during a major party convention, said Craig Sautter, a DePaul University professor, a consultant to Democratic candidates in Illinois and the author of three books on presidential convention history. "This is probably the most sophisticated legal effort ever on behalf of protesters to make sure their rights are adequately protected."

The lawyers can be expected to collaborate with members of the local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild such as Bruce Nestor and Jordan Kushner. The guild is an activist-minded group of local attorneys who traditionally advocate for demonstrators. As many as 50 of them may get involved next year.

The Minnesota ACLU's decision to jump into the fray so early was partly driven by the problems faced by protesters in 2004 at the Republican Convention in New York and the Democratic Convention in Boston.

"That's why you have judges, and that's why you have some of the best trial lawyers sitting in this room," said Pentelovitch. "We're not experts on protest demonstrations. We're experts on civil litigation in the Twin Cities. We know this town, and we know the judges."

[annabanana]

1. I like this a lot. I'd like to see more of this.

I would have like to see it for the pre-invasion protests.... And the NYC Repug convention... and... and...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Lawdy...

Someone put down their briar pipe and their martini long enough to notice what happened during the NYC convention.

It's these little glimmers of hope...

[Warpy]

3. Considering the bridge collapse was GOP tax cuts at work

You'd think the RNC might want to reconsider that particular choice of venue. They've got time.

I'm thinking there will be plenty of tar and feathers and rails around.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Well, maybe a plague of attack lawyers...

With their phasers set on "fuck you" is a worse fate than even they know. ;-)

[nolabels]

5. Just kind of wondering what about ignoring the whole thing?

Sometimes that works too :shrug:

[Major Hogwash]

6. Is the GOP convention in 2008 the real reason Bush went to Minneapolis?

Because there is no way they can have that bridge rebuilt in time for the convention.

It was a major artery into downtown Minneapolis.