St. Petersburg Times

Dong-Phuong Nguyen
July 26, 2003

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TAMPA – Fired University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian, facing life in prison if convicted of having terrorist ties, will represent himself in court.

During a hearing in federal court in Tampa on Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas McCoun allowed Al-Arian to sever his relationship with his two court-appointed attorneys.

McCoun made the decision after questioning Al-Arian at length about the pitfalls of such a move.

“I think it is a most foolish decision for you to proceed,” McCoun told Al-Arian. “I suspect it will result in numerous errors.”

But Al-Arian, 45, insisted.

“I believe I will be my best defense,” said Al-Arian, who was dressed in an orange jailhouse jumpsuit and carried his documents in a brown paper grocery bag.

Al-Arian can hire an attorney but gives up his right to any court-appointed counsel in the future. He has already had one lawyer fall through because of money issues, but said fundraising is under way to hire prominent Washington attorneys William B. Moffitt and Henry W. Asbill.

“Hopefully, it will happen in the future,” said Al-Arian, who remains incarcerated while awaiting trial, scheduled for January 2005.

Al-Arian and three other men were arrested in February on charges they supported and raised money for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group considered responsible for more than 100 deaths.

Al-Arian, a computer engineering professor, faces numerous charges, many of them complex.

McCoun asked Al-Arian if he was familiar with the federal rules of evidence, the trial process and the charges against him. “It’s not at all like the 60-minute programs you watch on TV,” McCoun said.

Al-Arian said he had not sat through a criminal trial, but he had attended legal conferences and helped with his brother-in-law’s immigration case.

McCoun reminded Al-Arian the possibility exists that as his own counsel he may not be able to see classified evidence against him.

After being granted his wish, Al-Arian reiterated complaints about his circumstances at Coleman Correctional Facility in Sumter County. He has complained about his solitary confinement, the law library and the pencils.

“You were advised the circumstances were not likely to change,” McCoun said. “By being incarcerated pretrial, your ability to investigate this case will be limited.”

After the hearing, one of the lawyers dismissed by Al-Arian, Frank Louderback, said Al-Arian will be faced with a task few lawyers have encountered.

“It’s hard to describe what he has got himself into,” Louderback said.

Said Al-Arian’s other ex-lawyer, Jeffrey Brown: “Good luck.”