{"product_id":"moving-the-bar-my-life-as-a-radical-lawyer-9781682193099","title":"Moving the Bar: My Life as a Radical Lawyer","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMichael Ratner (1943–2016) was one of America’s leading human rights lawyers. He worked for more than four decades at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) becoming first the Director of Litigation and then the President of what Alexander Cockburn called “a small band of tigerish people.” He was also the President of the National Lawyers Guild.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRatner handled some of the most significant cases In American history. This book tells why and how he did it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHis last case, which he worked on until he died, was representing truth-telling whistleblower and now political prisoner Julian Assange, the editor of WikiLeaks.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRatner “moved the bar” by organizing some 600 lawyers to successfully defend habeas corpus, that is, the ancient right of someone accused of a crime to have a lawyer and to be brought before a judge.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMichael had a piece of paper taped on the wall next to his desk at the CCR. It read:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 key principles of being a radical lawyer:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1. Do not refuse to take a case just because it is long odds of winning in court.\u003cbr\u003e2. Use cases to publicize a radical critique of US policy and to promote revolutionary transformation.\u003cbr\u003e3. Combine legal work with political advocacy.\u003cbr\u003e4. Love people.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompelling and instructive, \u003cem\u003eMoving the Bar\u003c\/em\u003e is an indispensable manual for the next generation of activists and their lawyers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If you care as deeply and passionately as Michael Ratner, the suffering of the oppressed forces you to become a radical.” — \u003cb\u003eChris Hedges\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“He was fearless. He was outraged by outrageous things. He was inventive when the law stopped short of providing justice. And working with Michael let you experience the exhilaration of taking the law to places where it had never been.” — \u003cb\u003ePeter Weiss, former vice-president of the Center for Constitutional Rights\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Driven by love and compassion, Michael Ratner was the most tenacious and brilliant of lawyers” — \u003cb\u003eAmy Goodman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“A fascinating read that covers much radical U.S. history.” —\u003cb\u003eAjamu Baraka\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Reading Michael Ratner’s \u003cem\u003eMoving the Bar\u003c\/em\u003e shows just how unusual he was in the crowded room of radical lawyers… especially when other radical lawyers fell by the wayside, and opted for money, fame and notoriety.” — \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCounterPunch\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“An honest, poignant, sprawling, remarkable, and inspiring account” — \u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003eLA Progressive\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“One of America’s foremost human rights lawyers” — \u003cb\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eGuardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[A] lively, thoughtful and remarkable memoir” — \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMorning Star \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Inspiring” — \u003ci\u003eMondoweiss\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Concise and easy to read for all who care about justice… Candidly offers a glimpse of the thoughtful soul behind the legal legend.” —\u003cb\u003e The Indypendent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A beautiful and compelling account from one of the leaders of the legal left” — \u003cb\u003eDavid Cole, \u003ci\u003eT\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ehe Nation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A vivid memoir of a storied attorney” — \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Progressive\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The memoir of a great constitutional lawyer” — \u003cb\u003eRadio Woodstock\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A valuable guide for activists and attorneys looking to use the law as part of larger movements for justice” — \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAgainst the Current\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OR Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51020287934807,"sku":"9781682193099","price":16.14,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781682193099.jpg?v=1750782997","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/moving-the-bar-my-life-as-a-radical-lawyer-9781682193099","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}