Trying suspected terrorists

Shown left to right are Don Rehkopf, James Harrington, Bill Clauss and Vincent Vitkowsky. Photos by Vasiliy Baziuk

The Rochester Lawyers’ Chapter of The Federalist Society and the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday took up the question “Should suspected terrorists be tried in military or civilian courts?”

The groups jointly sponsored the event, held at the Downtown Presbyterian Church on Fitzhugh Street.

Panelists included Vincent J. Vitkowsky, an adjunct fellow at the Center for Law and Counterterrorism and partner with New York City-based Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP; Donald G. Rehkopf, a former JAG officer who practices with the Rochester law firm of Brenna, Brenna & Boyce PLLC; Chad N. Boudreaux, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney with Baker & Botts LLP, who served as the deputy chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security in the Bush administration, and James P. Harrington, a Buffalo-based criminal defense attorney with Harrington & Mahoney and frequent lecturer at the University at Buffalo Law School in the area of death penalty defense and at Buffalo State College in constitutional law.

Rochester attorney William Clauss, a faculty member of the Law/Criminal Justice Department at Monroe Community College, moderated the discussion.

Mike Buckley of Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, (seated center) and Seth Hopkins (standing), Genesee Valley Chapter of the NYCLU, listen to Tuesday’s speakers.

Leela Chockalingam, a student at Brighton High School, attended the discussion, which was open to the public.