Hearing on Aafia’s new legal team Tag

SUMMARY: On Sept. 2, 2009 a hearing was held in New York to determine whether the lawyers retrained by the Pakistani government can represent Dr. Aafia. Richard Berman, the presiding judge ruled that the new legal team can be admitted into the case. However, he also required that the U.S. government appointed attorneys remain in the case as the lead counsel. Dr. Aafia rejected this development both verbally and in writing. Judge Berman ignored Dr. Aafia's wishes, even though he had recently ruled her competent to stand