Terrorist activities require rethinking values, not abandoning rights.

• Date: 29 May 2002
• Author: Anderson, Tony

Byline: Tony Anderson

In light of the terrorist activities impacting our country during the past year, Harvard Law School professor, Alan Dershowitz says it is time for America to rethink and debate the values they feel are important. However, that reevaluation does not mean it is time to give up fundamental rights.

"An event like Sept. 11 requires us to rethink, to put our minds at ground zero, to never, never abolish the fundamental freedoms that are essential aspects of our Constitution, nor to become civil libertarian fundamentalists," Dershowitz told a group of several hundred Wisconsin attorneys.

Dershowitz was one of the spotlight speakers during the State Bar of Wisconsin annual convention in Madison. During the May 16 presentation, he addressed the issue of justice in light of the September terrorist attacks and the ensuing war on terrorism.

Attorney, Please

Although American officials talk about aggressively dealing with those believed to be involved with terrorism, Dershowitz said, that does not mean the country should compromise one its core values - the right to counsel.

As U.S. leaders have tried to establish policies for dealing with people suspected of having ties to terrorist groups, one of the considerations has been the use of military procedures that could compromise the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Dershowitz said those rights need to...