Posted on 01/03/2008 7:50:46 AM PST by pabianice
Counsel Was Set To Defend Law Before High Court
Acting D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, left, shown with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, said he wants to move the gun ban defense in a different direction.
Acting D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles has fired the city lawyer who had been preparing to defend the District's longtime ban on handguns before the Supreme Court this spring, a move that some city officials fear could harm the case.
Alan B. Morrison, who has argued 20 cases before the high court, was asked to leave his post as special counsel by the end of this week. Morrison had been hired by then-Attorney General Linda Singer and put in charge of arguing the handgun case. Singer resigned two weeks ago.
Nickles declined to elaborate on his decision, but Morrison suggested in an interview that he was fired as part of a feud between Nickles and Singer.
The case is one of the most important in the city's history, and the court's ruling could have a national impact, legal experts have said. The city appealed to the Supreme Court to maintain the handgun ban after a lower court overturned it in the spring. The high court agreed to hear the case, probably in March, which would mark the first time the Supreme Court has examined a Second Amendment case in nearly 70 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at extra.examiner.com ...
Good, confusion to the enemy. An easy case with national implications - the 2nd Amendment lives - The Bill of Rights is so named because it recognizes the rights of citizens; it is not, for example, not named The Bill of Permissions.
Apologies, I guess I got tied up in a bill of nots.
This just tears me up to hear of their troubles...;’}
They will file for a delay. Which was the whole point of the firing.
-where will that leave the case?
Sounds like they’re bringing in a hired gun.
[rimshot]
I would NOT want to take on the 2nd Amendment and NRA.
No idea. I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that this might be a delaying tactic that might be used in a losing situation.
My first thought as well. Trying to run out the clock. Don't think they'll manage to get the court to delay until next session though. Don't even know if that is possible.
I am hoping their case is hopeless and they fired everyone so they can blame the coming loss on them. I have my fingers crossed that I am right!
I would agree that it is a distinct possibility that the fired attorneys are going to be the scapegoats in this case.
DC must not think much of their prospects at this time.
Perhaps DC now regrets filing the appeal. I wonder if there is a way to withdraw. I'll bet they could. I hope not since I am looking forward to the beginning of the end of gun control.
The contradictory and nonsensical things that many anti-gun groups use to justify their position cannot possibly be believed. Anti-gunners are liars and opportunists who wish to disregard the Second Amendment. I do not believe that they really consider it a collective right, but rather an individual right that should be infringed.
The NRA initially opposed filing the case. Preferring their own version, which got shot down at a lower level. They will provide an amicus brief, but AFAIK, are otherwise not taking an active part in the case. If I'm wrong someone please correct me, with documentation of course. :)
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