Toughest criminal defense job in U.S.

On Wednesday July, 22, I was honored to host lawyer Walter Ruiz at our Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers meeting.

Walter Ruiz being interviewed

Walter, a former lawyer in my office and a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, was assigned to defend "war on terror" detainees who are being held in the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.


The information Walter was allowed to share with us (he is legally bound to keep some information secret) raised disturbing questions about the "war on terror" and fundamental human rights.

In this post I will share links to some excerpts from his presentation.

My introduction of Walter Ruiz

https://youtu.be/KL4e4WfHYlA

Walter Ruiz describing some of the absurd trial rules

https://youtu.be/EasjBCrecfw


Walter Ruiz describing some of the torture detainees were subjected to

https://youtu.be/lZTpgrDPNnA

PRESS ADVISORY - Guantanamo Bay Justice Report

Next Wednesday (7/22) reporters can get a first-hand account about the mistreatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.

Walter Ruiz, a former U.S. Navy Commander, who was assigned to defend people who have been captured during the War on Terror will discuss his experiences during a luncheon hosted by the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida.

Walter Ruiz

Ruiz, a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School, currently represents Mustafa Ahmed Hawsawi who is accused of financing the 9/11 attack. Ruiz formerly worked for the Orange-Osceola Public Defender’s Office and as a federal public defender.

Click here for a "60 Minutes" video clip of Ruiz criticizing the military tribunal system that’s prosecuting the detainees.

The luncheon will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 E. Jackson St., Orlando.

The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m.

TV news crews have until 12 noon to set up their equipment.

Mr. Ruiz will be available for news media questions starting at 1:15 p.m.

If you plan to send a reporter, please call David Porter Communications Inc. at 407-965-0080.

Links to Ruiz background:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/12/us-usa-guantanamo-idUSKBN0LG2JF20150212

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/201351311028244726.html

Report from Guantanamo Bay legal proceedings

Hear about the most challenging criminal defense job in the United States.

Walter Ruiz

Walter Ruiz, one of the lawyers defending people being detained at Guantanamo Bay, will speak next Wednesday (7/22) at a luncheon being hosted by the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida.

Ruiz, a former U.S. Navy Commander and a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School, currently represents Mustafa Ahmed Hawsawi who is accused of financing the 9/11 attacks. Ruiz formerly worked for the Ninth Judicial District Public Defender's Office in Orlando and as a federal public defender.

Here’s a 60 Minutes clip with Ruiz criticizing the military tribunal system that’s being used to prosecute the detainees.

The luncheon will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 E. Jackson St., Orlando.

The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $15. Please send your RSVP to: Defendertraining@circuit9.org

Welcome to the PD 9 black out

I’m so proud of the hard work our Public Defender’s Office team puts in every day.

From time to time I like to take out a few minutes to have fun with the folks so we recently held a “black out” when team members were encouraged to wear their black PD9 T-shirts or other black shirts. To add to the fun, we treated everybody to ice cream and fruit bars.

Here are photos we took showing teams throughout our organization from downtown Orlando to Kissimmee.

Enjoy.

Bob