Letters to the Judge for Daniel are due in ONE WEEK

Hi friends,
We just wanted to remind you that letters to the Judge for Daniel are due in one week. You can get all the information you need below. Please consider writing one even if you do not know Daniel. Below are two links to flyers with the information about what to include in your letter, 10 reasons why you should write one and the guidelines for writing a letter.
thanks so much,
Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan

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Letter writing flyers:
http://www.supportdaniel.org/files/judgeletternew.pdf
http://www.supportdaniel.org/files/judgeletter_halfsheet.pdf

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10 Reasons to write a letter to the Judge for Daniel

1) This is the last big thing you are being asked to do before Daniel’s sentencing.

2) You have a chance to write one page that could help save our friend from being unfairly locked away in prison for eight or an addtional twenty years.

3) Because your letter will count. Even if you don’t know Daniel personally, your letter will demonstrate the breadth of his support community to the judge.

4) This is a chance to use whatever status, privilege, or prestige you might have in the eyes of society and put it towards supporting a targeted activist like Daniel.

5) Either you know Daniel and have a story to tell, or you know about positive things that he’s done for his communities, or you’ve done things to support him, or you know about things others have done to support him, or you know why he shouldn’t be labeled a terrorist and locked away—but whatever it is, you have something to say about Daniel McGowan and this is your chance to say it when it counts.

6) Because you don’t want to live in a world in which targets of repression are not supported by their friends and their community. Because you don’t want to see what would happen to free speech and civil liberties if we didn’t support each other.

7) Because there is strength in numbers.

8) The decision over how many years Daniel will spend in prison will ultimately come down to one person and you have a chance to express to her what Daniel means to you.

9) Because you would want everybody to do this if you were in Daniel’s position.

10) Because your voice matters.
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Guidelines for Letters to Judge Aiken in Support of Daniel McGowan

Daniel McGowan will be sentenced by Judge Ann Aiken probably sometime in the Spring. Daniel’s lawyers will submit a detailed memorandum prior to sentencing, along with letters from family members, friends, colleagues, and other supporters. Please refer to these guidelines if you are writing a letter to Judge Aiken on Daniel’s behalf. Send it to his lawyers at the address below.

Examples of Things to Write About – Choose Only What is Right for You

• How you met Daniel and how you know him (through school, work, mutual friends, prisoner support work, etc.); how long you have known Daniel.
• What you know about Daniel’s character, his reputation in the community; personal experiences you have had with him that illustrate important aspects of his character.
• What you know about Daniel’s relationship with his family, his wife, and his close friends – the people who will be his personal support when he is in prison and when he is released. Describe for the judge how these people will assist him through these difficult times.
• How you personally will be able to help Daniel get back to a normal life when he is released from prison, whether it is through helping him to pursue his education, remain employed, or establish a home.
• Examples, from your personal knowledge, of what Daniel has done in his life to help others, whether it is through activist work, charitable work, work for non-profit organizations, or personally helping you or someone you know with something. Specific examples of Daniel’s contributions to charitable, community, and non-profit organizations are helpful.
• Examples, from your personal knowledge, of how Daniel demonstrates what he believes in, whether it is by arranging Really, Really Free Markets, collecting electronic gear to recycle, or volunteering for causes he supports.
• The Judge may consider whether Daniel is likely to commit another crime. If you have specific reasons to share with the Judge to demonstrate why you believe that Daniel is unlikely to commit another crime, please explain those in your letter.
• The Judge may consider whether Daniel has shown that, after the crimes were committed, his conduct demonstrated rehabilitation. If you have specific examples of his conduct, between July of 2001 and December 2005 that you feel the Judge should know about that show Daniel has engaged in significant rehabilitation from the time he committed the crimes, please explain those in your letter.
• The Judge may consider whether to sentence Daniel as a “terrorist” under certain provisions of federal law and sentencing guidelines. While this is largely a technical legal issue that the lawyers will write about, you may wish to write to the Judge about how Daniel’s case compares to other crimes and incidents that you are personally aware of that either have or have not been treated as “terrorist” incidents.

There may be other things you may wish to say to the judge as well. Our suggestions are just that – suggestions. Please make sure you write in a polite, respectful manner to the Judge.

What Not to Write About
Some topics are simply not helpful subjects of discussion in a letter to the Court related to sentencing. We ask that you not justify or rationalize the incidents. We ask that you not compare Daniel to others who have entered pleas and who are also facing sentencing or to those who have not been arrested or are fugitives.

Address Your Letter To:
Judge Ann Aiken
U.S. District Court
Eugene, Oregon

MAIL YOUR LETTER TO:
Andrea Crabtree
Schroeter Goldmark & Bender
810 Third Avenue, Suite 500
Seattle, Washington 98104

Please, do NOT mail your letter to Judge Aiken. After you have signed the letter, MAIL IT TO THE LAWYERS' office. They will deliver all of the correspondence to the Judge at one time, along with other sentencing materials.

DEADLINE: Please get letters to the lawyers no later than February 15, 2007.

Questions? Call or e-mail Amanda Lee at (206) 622-8000 or lee@sgb-law.com