Rest in Peace, Frank

One of the nice things about being a part of the Federal Public Defender system is that you are part of a network of experienced, committed attorneys all over the country. It's like being part of some secret brotherhood. The community lost one of its leading lights over the weekend, as Frank Dunham, formerly the defender in the Eastern District of Virginia passed away after a long battle with brain cancer. From the Washington Post obit:

A longtime Northern Virginia lawyer and former prosecutor, Mr. Dunham created the public defender's office virtually by himself in 2001. One of his first clients was [Zacarias] Moussaoui, the only person charged in a U.S. courtroom in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, Mr. Dunham zealously battled the government on behalf of an al-Qaeda member who despised his own attorneys. Moussaoui eventually pleaded guilty, but only after Mr. Dunham and his team tied the case up in the courts for several years.

Dunham's team, following on with Moussaoui's case after Frank was forced to leave the office to fight his cancer, managed to save Moussaoui from execution - an amazing accomplishment for the only man charged in some connection with the 9/11 attacks. Dunham also successfully argued Yaser Hamdi's case before the Supreme Court.

Thank you, Frank, for your example to all of us in the FPD community. RIP.