Coercing law firms to drop pro bono Guantanamo cases

Many of the largest law firms in the United States are contributing resources pro bono to defend the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. As Michael Froomkin relays at Discourse.net, however, the feds will soon be pressuring these firms' largest clients to pressure the firms to drop the Guantanamo cases:

This radio interview with Cully Stimson, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, heralds the start of an organized campaign by the White House to encourage major law firm clients to pressure those firms to drop their pro-bono representation of Guantanamo detainees.

The Washington Post had a forceful editorial about this today, which says almost everything that needs saying.

Disgusting, but not as surprising as it should be.