[wmil]

I think the important lesson is that if the prosecutor is being overzealous and you're a sympathetic defendant then you shouldn't be afraid to ignore gag orders and take your case to the press.

Lawyers are usually against it. Thier natural impulse is to try to win in the legal system. Angering the judge is a huge risk.

But look at the Justina Pelletier case. She'd likely still be in a mental hospital instead of receiving treatment if her father hadn't broken a gag order and gone to the press.

Swartz had more than enough supporters to pay his legal bills and rein in the prosecutor. It's a shame that his team decided to follow the gag order.