BREAKING: JUDGE ORDERS LYNNE STEWART’S RELEASE

From NYC CBS:

A federal judge in Manhattan ordered a “compassionate release” Tuesday from prison for a dying former civil rights lawyer.

The U.S. government requested the release earlier in the day for Lynne Stewart, who was convicted in a terrorism case from prison. Prosecutors say Stewart, 74, suffers from recurrent stage-four breast cancer. She was not scheduled to be released until August 2018.

U.S. District Judge John Koeltl had said he could not release her early without a recommendation for from prison authorities. The director of the Bureau of Prisons made the request through Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“The defendant’s terminal medical condition and very limited life expectancy constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons that warrant the requested reduction” in her prison sentence, Koeltl’s order said.

Stewart has been imprisoned since 2009 after she was convicted of helping a blind Egyptian sheik, Omar Abdel-Rahman, communicate with his followers from prison.

Abdel-Rahman was convicted in 1996 of plotting to bomb a number of landmarks in New York City. He was sentenced to life in prison.

If she is released, Stewart would live with her son in Brooklyn, CNN reported.

BREAKING: BOP petitions judge for compassionate release of Lynne Stewart

From Democracy Now:

The Bureau of Prisons has submitted a request to the judge in Lynne Stewart’s case, asking him to grant “compassionate release” to 74-year-old jailed civil rights attorney who is dying from stage IV breast cancer. Scroll down to read the order.

“This morning, the government, meaning the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons, filed a motion before Federal Judge John Koeltl, requesting that Lynne Stewart be re-sentenced to time served,” said Bob Boyle, one of Stewart’s lawyers. “This means she would be eligible — if he signs the order — for immediate release. There is every indication that will sign the order, since he said so on the record, when we made the motion back in July to have her be released.”

Boyle says he fully expects Stewart to be released in the next few days, and return to New York City where she will live with her son. He says she and her family have been told the news and are extremely relieved and grateful.

Full story, including audio

BOP denies Lynne Stewart’s compassionate release

From Justice for Lynne Stewart:

URGENT ALERT – LYNNE STEWART DENIED COMPASSIONATE RELEASE BY FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS DIRECTOR

Lynne Stewart’ husband Ralph Poynter was informed by Lynne this morning that she received a three-paragraph letter from Kathleen Kenney, General Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C.:

Compassionate Release has been denied on the grounds that Lynne’s “health is improving.”

This claim is at once cynical and false. Lynne Stewart’s cancer continues to spread in her lungs. She remains in isolation as her white blood cell count remains so low that she is at risk for generalized infection. She weakens daily.

A message from Lynne will be released imminently.

We call upon all committed to the effort to secure Lynne Stewart’s release and to save her life to stand by for further notice of the response from Lynne, her husband Ralph Poynter, and her family and her lawyers – announcing the next actions that we, her supporters, will launch in response to this appalling betrayal of compassion and justice.

Lynne Stewart loses appeal

From NYC Indymedia:

by Stephen Lendman

For 30 years, Lynne heroically defended America’s poor, underprivileged, unwanted, and forgotten. Without advocates like her, they never have a chance for due process and judicial fairness.

Lynne championed equity and justice. She devoted her life and work to upholding principles too important to reject.

She defended controversial figures like Weather Underground activist David Gilbert, United Freedom Front’s Richard Williams, Black Liberation Army figures Sekou Odinga and Nasser Ahmed, and many others like them.

She knew the risks, yet took them courageously. She did so because it’s the right thing to do.

At former US Attorney General Ramzy Clark’s request, she joined his Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman’s defense team.

In 1995, he was wrongfully convicted of seditious conspiracy, solicitation of murder, solicitation of an attack on American military installations, conspiracy to commit murder, and conspiracy to bomb in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center attack. Evidence proved his innocence, not guilt on all charges.

No matter. He never had a chance. Prosecutorial injustice framed him. Show trial theatrics assured imprisoning him for life. He’s currently at Butner (North Carolina) Federal Medical Center northwest of Raleigh.

Prisoners Speak About Geronimo Ji Jaga

Lynne Stewart

The untimely death of Geronimo Jijaga Pratt has hit me very hard because it reminds me of all the work yet to be done.  Not only the liberation of the oppressed to which Geronimo dedicated himself as a young man and again after his release but also the liberation of those locked away in the torture chambers of this Gulag USA…

Sundiata Acoli

geronimo ji Jaga was a true “Top Soldier,” highly skilled in warfare, tested and proven on the battlefields of Viet Nam, he returned stateside to put his expertise at the service of the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army and other select organizations of the era. He saved many lives. He made many soldiers…

Leonard Peltier

Everyone it seems knows something about Geronimo Pratt. To all of us, to every human being on the planet, he was a beacon of principle that we should all aspire to emulate. To those directly involved in the struggle, he was one of those gifted, tough as nails warriors who not only had the vision to know what was right, but the strength and courage to stick to his convictions no matter the cost. When he had to be, he was a terror to his enemies.

Lynne Stewart transferred to Texas

This is coming a little late, but as of December 18, 2010, Lynne has been transferred to FMC Carswell.

Her new address is:

Lynne Stewart
53504-054
FMC Carswell
Federal Medical Center
PO Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127

The Federal Bureau of Prisons says Carswell “provides specialized medical and mental health services to female offenders.” It’s located at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base.

Lynne Stewart resentenced to 10 years in prison

Note from RnB – Bob Lederer

Thanks to Jeff Mackler, West Coast Director of the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee, for this quick and thorough account.

One small caveat, however: I clearly heard the judge say (twice) that he “recommended” (not “ordered”) that Lynne be housed at the Danbury, CT federal prison (about 3 hours from New York City), so she would be close to her family. My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that federal judges do not have the authority to dictate what prison the person convicted must be sent to — that decision is up to the Bureau of Prisons of the U.S. Justice Department.

Also I heard the judge order (I believe in this case it was an order) that Lynne be given 60 more days at Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan to work on any appeal she may choose to file, before being transferred to her ultimate prison destination.

Finally, I remember that after the judge announced his decision to sentence Lynne to 10 years, but before he formally pronounced the sentence, he asked her if she wanted to say anything. She replied, “I’m stunned,” said that this was far different from the life trajectory she had anticipated, and then added what Jeff reports: that she felt bad that she “had let down” her supporters. Of course it’s really this repressive, unjust system that brutally let down Lynne and lovers of justice everywhere.

************************************
Lynne Stewart sentenced to ten years in prison

BY JEFF MACKLER
(Jeff Mackler is the West Coast Director of the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee.)

The full force of the U.S. criminal “justice” system came down on innocent political prisoner, 30-year veteran human rights attorney and radical political activist Lynne Stewart today, July 15, 2010.

Letter from Lynne Stewart

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Friends and Supporters:

Well the moment we all hoped would never come is upon us. Good-bye to a good cup of coffee in the morning, a soft chair, the hugs of grandchildren and the smaller pleasures in life. I must say I am being treated well and that is due to my lawyer team and your overwhelming support.

While I have received “celebrity” treatment here in MCC—high visibility— conditions for the other women are deplorable. Medical care, food, education, recreation are all at minimal levels. If it weren’t for the unqualified bonds of sisterhood and the commissary it would be even more dismal.

My fellow prisoners have supplied me with books and crosswords, a warm (it is cold in here most of the time) sweat shirt and pants, treats from the commissary, and of course, jailhouse humor. Most important many of them know of my work and have a deep reservoir of can I say it? Respect.

I continue to both answer the questions put to me by them, I also can’t resist commenting on the T.V. news or what is happening on the floor—a little LS politics always! (Smile) to open hearts and minds! Liz Fink, my lawyer leader, believes I will be here at MCC-NY for a while-perhaps a year before being moved to prison. Being is jail is like suddenly inhabiting a parallel universe but at least I have the luxury of time to read! Tomorrow I will get my commissary order which may include an AM/FM Radio and be restored to WBAI and music (classical and jazz).

We are campaigning to get the bladder operation (scheduled before I came in to MCC) to happen here in New York City. Please be alert to the website in case I need some outside support.

I want to say that the show of support outside the Courthouse on Thursday as I was “transported” is so cherished by me. The broad organizational representation was breathtaking and the love and politics expressed (the anger too) will keep me nourished through this.

Organize—Agitate, Agitate, Agitate! And write to me and others locked down by the Evil Empire.
Love Struggle, Lynne Stewart

—lynnestewart.org, December 4, 2009

To write to Lynne Stewart:
Lynne Stewart
#53504-054
MCC-NY
150 Park Row