Massachusetts Law Professor Calls Care Packages for U.S. Troops 'Shameful'

Fox News ^ | November 14, 2011 | Cristina Corbin/Fox News

[jazusamo]

A Massachusetts law professor has created a campus firestorm with an email to colleagues that declares it would be "shameful" to send care packages to U.S. troops "who have gone overseas to kill other human beings."

Michael Avery, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, sent a five-paragraph email to colleagues in response to a school-wide appeal for care packages for deployed soldiers, Fox affiliate WFXT-TV reports.

"I think it is shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other human beings," Avery wrote.

The professor, who specializes in constitutional law, wrote the email last week in response to a university drive to collect items for U.S. troops, like sunblock and sanitary products. He also wrote that sympathy for American troops in harm's way is "not particularly rational in today's world."

Paul Spera, past commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, blasted Avery's remarks on Monday, calling the professor's argument "despicable."

"The shameful thing is that he’s teaching our young people," Spera told FoxNews.com.

[jazusamo]

Everyones entitled to their opinion but the student said it well:

"I'm participating in it and I think a lot of people are regardless of the email. If anything, he really just discredited himself," she said.

[martin_fierro]

http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

[Kartographer]

Count me among the shamful and DAMNED PROUD OF IT!

[Artemis Webb]

Geez the guy sounds like Ron Paul.

[edcoil]

Since my guess is he is tenured - nothing will happen to him.

[morphing libertarian]

I’m shocked that we sent armies overseas and now I find out they are killing people. What next? Are they braking things too?

[LeonardFMason]

IS EVERY University a stinking cesspool!!!!!!!

[JOHN ADAMS]

Sadly, the Suffolk law school website doesn’t provide this miscreant’s email address. (He’s a pretty old guy, and may not use email). His CV makes it clear why he thinks its immoral for American soldiers to go overseas and try to kill the enemies of their country. Have a look:

Michael Avery
Professor of Law

S H O R T B I O G R A P H Y
Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School; Partner, Perkins, Smith & Cohen (1996-1998); Law Offices of Michael Avery, (1989-1995); Partner, Avery & Friedman, (1984-1989); Law Offices of Michael Avery, (1977-1984); Partner, Williams, Avery & Wynn (formerly Roraback, Williams & Avery), (1971-1977); Special Staff Counsel, ACLU Foundation (1970-1971). Adjunct Professor, Boston College Law School, (1989-1991); Visiting Professor, Georgia State University Law School, (1988-1989); Adjunct Professor, Northeastern Law School; Political Justice Workshop, Yale Law School (1972-1975); Undergraduate Seminar, “Police and Police Conduct,” Yale College.

On May 15, 2010 Prof. Avery was on a panel at the Federalist Society’s rendition of Henry V

Degrees:
BA, LLB, Yale University; attended University of Moscow, U.S.S.R. 1968-1969.

Bar Admittance:
MA; CT; U.S.D.C. MA, CT; U.S. Court of Appeals 1st, 2nd, 4th, & 9th Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court

Subjects:
Constitutional Law, Individual Rights, Evidence, Scientific Evidence

Professional Activities:
President, National Lawyers Guild (NLG) (2003 - 2006); Former President, Board of Directors, National Police Accountability Project; Frequently invited to lecture on the topic of constitutional law and/or police misconduct at law schools nationwide. Lectures at conferences sponsored by Georgetown University Law Center, Chicago Kent Law School, Suffolk University School of Law, A.L.I. - A.B.A., American Civil Liberties Union affiliates, National Lawyers Guild, Clark Boardman, Ltd., International Association of Chiefs of Police, various law enforcement agencies. President, Board of Directors, National Police Accountability Project, NLG,(1999 - 2003); Cooperating Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights, New York, 1980-present; Co-chair, Massachusetts Chapter, National Lawyers Guild, 1996 to 1998; Board Member, Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, 1983-1986; General Counsel, Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, 1978-1981; Chairperson, Civil Liberties Committee, National Lawyers Guild, 1977-1980; National Council Member, Emergency Civil Liberties Committee, 1976-1979.

S E L E C T E D P U B L I C A T I O N S

B O O K S

POLICE MISCONDUCT: LAW AND LITIGATION (3d ed., 2011) (with David Rudovsky and Karen Blum)

WE DISSENT (NYU Press, 2008) (Editor, Contributing author)

HANDBOOK OF MASSACHUSETTS EVIDENCE (8th ed., 2007 & Supp. 2010-2011) (with Mark S. Brodin)

DO YOUR OWN DIVORCE IN CONNECTICUT: THE PRO SE DISSOLUTION MANUAL FOR CONNECTICUT (1991) (with Diane Polan and Sara D. Eldrich)

A R T I C L E S

Obstacles to Litigating Civil Claims for Wrongful Conviction: An Overview, 18 B.U. PUB. INT. L.J. 439 (2009)

The Constitutionality of Warrantless Electronic Surveillance of Suspected Foreign Threats to the National Security of the United States, 62 MIAMI L. REV. 541 (2008)

The Rise of the Conservative Legal Movement, 42 SUFFOLK L. REV. 89 (2008) (book review)

Prejudice v. Probative Value, Philadelphia Style, 50 ST. LOUIS U. L.J. 1147 (2007)

Paying for Silence: The Liability of Police Officers under Section 1983 for Suppressing Exculpatory Evidence, 13 TEMP. POL. & CIV. RTS. L. REV. 1 (2003)

You Have a Right to Remain Silent, 30 FORDHAM URB. L.J. 571 (2003)

Unreasonable Seizures of Unreasonable People: Defining the Totality of Circumstances Relevant to Assessing the Police Use of Force Against Emotionally Disturbed People, 34 COLUM. HUM. RTS. L. REV. 261 (2003)

The Liability of Police Officers under Section 1983 for Suppressing Exculpatory Evidence, 13 TEMP. POL. & CIV. RTS. L. REV. 1 (2003)

Annual William Homans Memorial Lecture—Evidentiary Privileges, PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY (2000)

Laudry v. Attorney General: DNA Databanks Hold a Mortgage on Privacy Rights, 44 BOSTON B.J. 18 (2000)

Police Chases: More Deadly than a Speeding Bullet?, 33 :12 Trial 61 (1997)

MEDIA

Judge Sotomayor’s Supreme Court Nomination, 06/01/09. NECN Sidebar Series
Use of full body scanners at airports, 01/11/10. NECN Sidebar Series

Appellate Nominee Goodwin Liu, 04/16/10. Professor Avery Discusses Appellate Nominee Goodwin Liu on CNN

C O N T A C T I N F O
Prof. Michael Avery
Suffolk University Law School
120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977

[Netizen]

I have shamefully sent over 300 packages. Whatever will I do?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Give him credit. He did more to publicize the program than any other individual could have.

Still, when the phone don’t ring, it’ll be Harvard Law, with that much anticipated offer to join the faculty. I mean, who wouldn’t wanna make Elizabeth Warren size dough?

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the AAUSS link, sounds like a great program.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Here’s the b@stard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0e8OBad0yI

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[sten]

overseas? nah. i’d gladly travel to Mass to enlighten this prick

[wideawake]

attended University of Moscow, U.S.S.R. 1968-1969

They don't usually make it that obvious.

[GnL]

Sadly, 90% of law profs would agree with this Marxist.

[Kartographer]

Also:

Any Solider

http://anysoldier.com/

[Noumenon]

More trash to take out...

[jazusamo]

Thanks for your post.

I doubt we have to guess if he was for or against Judge Sotomayor and Prof Goodwin Liu.

[denfurb]

"The professor, who specializes in constitutional law, wrote the email last week...."
maybe they aren't listing on their website.