News & Events
MACDL Summer Meeting
The MACDL Summer Meeting on was held recently at the Marriott Hotel in Newton, with more than 125 members and guests in attendance.
Keynote Address
The keynote speaker for the evening was Lieutenant Commander Matthew Diaz.
Serving his country as a staff judge advocate general at Guantanamo, Mathew Diaz watched, in the words of Scott Horton, writing in Harper’s Magazine, “a shameless assault on America’s Constitution and commitment to the rule of law . . . the introduction of a cruel system of torture and abuse . . . [and] the shaming of nation’s uniformed services” by the lawless acts of the Executive. As a uniformed officer and a licensed attorney, Diaz was bound to follow his command and to uphold the law, a position that proved more than merely precarious.
Diaz allegedly printed a copy of the names of secret detainees and sent them to a civil rights lawyer who had requested them in federal court proceedings. He was tried and convicted for disclosing “secrets” and he spent six months in prison. The Pentagon continues to move to strip him of his law license.
Balliro Award Recipient – Judith Lindahl
Charlie Clifford presented the Joseph Balliro Award to Judith Lindahl, in recognition of her commitment and dedication to the zealous representation of those accused of crime.
Lindahl has represented defendants in some of the most controversial and highly-publicized cases in recent memory, including the 1983 “Big Dan’s” rape trial and the 1996 trial of David Clark for the murder of State Trooper Mark Charbonier. A long-time Mass. Defender, and past-president of MACDL, Judith was a driving force behind the current incarnation of this organization
David White Receives President’s Award
MACDL President Randy Chapman presented the first-ever President’s Award to MBA President David White, in recognition of his devotion to the meaningful reform of sentencing laws and practices in the Commonwealth.
L-R.:
Andy Good, MACDL Past-President
Lt. Cmndr. Matthew Diaz, Keynote Speaker
Balliro Award Recipient Judith Lindahl
Joseph Balliro
Charles Clifford
David White, President’s Award Recipient
Randy Chapman, President