Legal Times: 'DC Battle Draws Top Guns'

Legal Times has a really solid piece on the Heller case before the U.S. Supreme Court. My take: It is a good profile on how while Alan Gura, counsel for the Mr. Heller does hope to be paid for his work, he is committed to the belief that the Second Amendment protects a pre-existing individual right.

The "dream-team" attorneys lining up on the other side, to argue for the District of Columbia handgun ban, appear to be taking the case pro-bono -- mostly because they see this case as making legal history and they, basically, want their names attached to it.

More importantly, writer Tony Mauro gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the trauma and turmoil going on inside the "pro-ban" DC camp. There is plenty of it; disagreements between counsel, politicians in the district, and the U.S. Solicitor General's office. Mauro explains how that may effect oral arguments next month when the High Court convenes to hear the case.

Best passage from the story: "As for fees, Gura, too, estimates his billable hours at more than $1 million, which he hopes to extract from the D.C. government if he wins. 'Defending the Bill of Rights? Priceless,' he says."

Amen.