Altercation today features an exchange between Eric Alterman and Michael Moore on Lynne Stewart. Eric says he didn't know much about Lynne Stewart before the profile of her in the Sunday New York Times Magazine.

Lynne Stewart is a 62 year old New York lawyer whose conversations with her client, the blind Sheik Abdel Rahman, serving a 65 year sentence for conspiring to blow up New York landmarks, were recorded by prison officials during their attorney-client visits.

Stewart has been charged with conspiring to aid terrorists, lying and breaking an agreement with the Bureau of Prisons.

She is being represented by legendary lawyer and American University Law School dean Michael Tigar, who defended Terry Nichols in the Oklahoma City Bombing trial.

Last month, a federal judge issued an adverse pre-trial ruling in her case, here are the details.

Monitoring attorney-client conversations in jail is one of the unacceptable practices instituted by Ashcroft after September 11. Here are the reasons why, from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The American Bar Association also strongly objects to the practice and Senator Patrick Leahy sent off a fiery letter opposing the practice last November.

[Ashcroft's regulation, 66 Fed. Reg. 55062 (Oct. 31, 2001)]