Gonzales reversed the case handling of the Padilla case as set up by John Ashcroft, shunting him into criminal treatment, rather than military after he had been held that way for a lengthy period. Very lengthy. If he was entitled to criminal defense rights, where were his normal constitutional privileges? (I know, I'm gagging too... he hardly deserves them, but legally he gets them if treated as a mere "criminal").
Luttig might be smart and believe the right things constitutionally, but he simply had a temper tantrum in this instance because he thought his honor was violated.
No, he was standing for the principle. Technically, the reversal of the position by the administration almost puts the previous legal affidavits they made into a state of such doubt that 'contempt of court' and 'perjury' had to be dancing in the minds of the other judges on the 4th Circuit Panel.... so this wasn't just a single judge's honor being 'violated'...it was the Administration practically impeaching itself...and too arrogant, or ignorant, to realize it was doing so.
They epitomize the charachter Pogo opining..."we have met the enemy...and he is us!"
With friends like Gonzales and Meiers...who needs enemies??!