Stefan Presser had the credentials - degrees from Yale and New York Universities, for example - to make a fortune representing famous and powerful people.
Instead, Presser, who died Friday after a battle with cancer, chose to represent the most powerful ideals in America, even when they were momentarily unpopular.
Presser served 21 years as a lawyer and director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He worked hard to defend the rights of prisoners and the powerless, and of protesters (even when he personally disagreed with the content of their protest).
...
In this time of turnover on the Supreme Court, the meaning of the Constitution is much on everyone's minds. Stefan Presser devoted his career to defending the Bill of Rights and upholding the promise of a more perfect union. He will be missed.
See also here. I can only wish to accomplish what he did.
Mr. Presser, in my limited experience of him, could best be described as a selfless asshole. I can't say I liked him personally. That doesn't matter at all. His work is far more important than his personality. As the Inky said, he could have chosen to be rich in money, but instead he chose to serve his country by devoting his time and energy to defending the constitution from those who would discard it.
He was the best kind of lawyer.
oh thats a bummer :(
Posted by: anna in philly | October 12, 2005 at 03:20 PM
I remember him mostly for selling out all the RNC arrestees, claiming that none of the prison brutality took place in Philly. Much of Philly's activist community refused to work with him after that.
Other than that, I have heard second hand that he did good work on other issues.
Posted by: Mike R | October 16, 2005 at 05:04 PM
I remember him mostly for selling out all the RNC arrestees, claiming that none of the prison brutality took place in Philly.
Yep. I remember that. I think he valued his relationship with city officials more than he cared about protesters. He wanted to mediate, not confront.
Much of Philly's activist community refused to work with him after that.
On the other hand, much of Philly's activist community are a bunch of puppet-making, bullshit-talking wankers.
I have heard second hand that he did good work on other issues.
Sure. He never let you forget it, either.
Posted by: Mithras | October 16, 2005 at 10:51 PM