More Fallout From DC Gun Case Attorney Firings

Its not just pro-self defense advocates who are raising an eyebrow at the latest shuffling of responsibilities in the District of Columbia regarding the Heller case. The firing of the lead attorney on DC's appeal to the Supreme Court over its irrational, decades-old handgun ban on the eve of document filings has DC Council representatives speculating on the motives of Acting AG Peter Nickles.

"The sacking surprised members of D.C.’s tightly knit appellate bar and drew condemnations from Morrison’s colleagues."

“It’s enough to make you sick,” said Brian Wolfman, who succeeded (fired lead attorney) Morrison at Public Citizen. “Alan’s a big boy and he could see that he’d have to leave the position eventually but to fire him in this way seems like a case of egomania.”

Some D.C. Council members shared in the outrage. Phil Mendelson, D-at large, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called Morrison’s firing “crazy,” and Mary Cheh, D-Ward 3 and a law professor, said she was worried about Nickles’ judgment. “This almost sounds like some kind of Tammany Hall purge,” she said. “And it harms the District. That’s not a good first step.”

Nickles is an old family friend of DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. This is cronyism, pure and simple. It also indicates the apparent hypocrisy of Mayor Fenty. If he was as serious about the gun case as he claims, he would be keeping the "A Team" in at least for a while longer. His actions over the past month show he is more interested in taking care of his pals.

It is cronyism, pure and simple. And DC's residents continue to be caught in the cross-fire.