A civil rights lawyer convicted of helping an imprisoned terrorist communicate with his disciples has been disbarred, notes a report in The Guardian.

The New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division denied Lynne Stewart's request to voluntarily resign from the practice of law. Stewart was convicted in 2005 of providing material support to terrorists. She had released a statement issued by one of her clients, Omar Abdel-Rahman, a blind sheik sentenced to life in prison for plotting to blow up five New York landmarks and assassinate Egypt's President. The appellate panel said Stewart became subject to losing her law licence immediately upon being convicted of a felony. Stewart was convicted of one count each of conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorist activity and providing and concealing material support to terrorist activity. She also was convicted of two counts of making false statements. Stewart was sentenced to 28 months in prison. Government prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 30 years.
Full report in The Guardian