The Damage That Harvard Has Done - Firing Harvey Weinstein's Defence Lawyer

fgrsentinel · 2019-05-15T12:00:30+00:00

Honestly at this point I'm surprised nobody's making an effort to boycott admissions to Harvard or something.

Ivy League schools have prestige, yes, but their reputation and age are what gives them that prestige. If the Ivy League wants to turn its back on common sense and legal rights and obligations, perhaps its time for people to view it as it should be viewed: just another group of colleges that doesn't know how the world's supposed to work.

darkcrimsonx · 2019-05-15T04:00:05+00:00

I'm mad they fired Eric Clopper!

Metroid545 · 2019-05-15T06:36:24+00:00

Thats pretty disgusting

splodgenessabounds · 2019-05-15T11:10:46+00:00

Well I'll be buggered. I was thinking of posting this here but I couldn't work an MR angle into it so I posted elsewhere.

Nonetheless, here's a copypasta:

See also: Jeannie Suk Gersen at The New Yorker

As an (ageing) Englishman living in Straya I am well down the list of people to consult on this issue. Nonetheless and notwithstanding, it strikes me as peculiar that Prof. of Law (Harvard) Ronald Sullivan ("an African American law professor and faculty dean with a long history of freeing marginalized innocents from prison") should be removed from his position at Harvard simply because he chose to join the defence for Weinstein.

Had Sullivan committed a gross (or even minor) error at law, I could see a case for his dismissal. I could even understand it if Sullivan had opted out because of the personal costs. But to be booted out of his Deanship by an Ivy League university on the basis of how unpopular his decision was with students?

Uni students have protested this, that and the other since at least the 1950's, and long may they do so (and have the right to do so). The issue (IMSO) is: since when did principle - especially at an Ivy League uni - bow to popularity? If Harvard Uni administrators are this willing to capitulate to shouty students, what's its prestige? If the Law faculty of Harvard folds this easily, why would any self-respecting law practice take on its graduates?

Speculatively, if Harvard's best are nobbled, what chance Weinstein gets a fair trial (mass media/ social media verdicts included)?

On the basis of flak I've got in the past regarding the Weinstein issue, let me make it clear that I fully support the principles that anyone and everyone accused of an offence is entitled to: the presumption of innocence; the right to defend the accusations, allegations and charges made against them; and the right to a fair trial. If (subject to the foregoing conditions) Weinstein is found guilty, then may he rot in prison.

I reserve the right (as should Harvard Uni) to defend the right of practiced, professional lawyers to stand for the defence in a court of law, no matter who the accused may be or what misdemeanours they are accused of. Popularity doesn't come into it.

Title	The Damage That Harvard Has Done - Firing Harvey Weinstein's Defence Lawyer
Author	goodmod
Upvotes	16
Comments	4
Date	May 15, 2019 3:45 AM UTC (7 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/boswma/the_damage_that_harvard_has_done_firing_harvey/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/the-damage-that-harvard-has-done-firing-harvey.877644 https://theredarchive.com/post/877644

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