Moving the Bar

by Michael Ratner

Michael Ratner (1943–2016) was one of America’s leading human rights lawyers. He worked for more than four decades at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) becoming first the Director of Litigation and then the President of what Alexander Cockburn called “a small band of tigerish people.” He was also the President of the National Lawyers Guild.

Ratner handled some of the most significant cases In American history. This book tells why and how he did it.

His last case, which he worked on until he died, was representing truth-telling whistleblower and now political prisoner Julian Assange, the editor of WikiLeaks.

Ratner “moved the bar” by organizing some 600 lawyers to successfully defend habeas corpus, that is, the ancient right of someone accused of a crime to have a lawyer and to be brought before a judge.

Michael had a piece of paper taped on the wall next to his desk at the CCR. It read:

4 key principles of being a radical lawyer:

1. Do not refuse to take a case just because it is long odds of winning in court.
2. Use cases to publicize a radical critique of US policy and to promote revolutionary transformation.
3. Combine legal work with political advocacy.
4. Love people.

Compelling and instructive, Moving the Bar is an indispensable manual for the next generation of activists and their lawyers.

Genres: Law, Biography, Activism

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Attorney and President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a non-profit human rights litigation organization and president of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) based in Berlin.

He was co-counsel in representing the Guantanamo Bay detainees in the United States Supreme Court, where, in June 2004, the court decided his clients have the right to test the legality of their detentions in court.

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect this book to read as quickly as it did: while it's a memoir, it kind of feels like a legal adventure story of an attorney who is able to be self-aware and reflective of the work they've done. Unfortunately, because it was unfinished when Michael passed away, there is no tidy summation or reflection at the end but that itself is, to me, an invitation to reflect on how ephemeral our time is and how some of our work will always remain unmemorialized due to how time steals on us and from us.

[Juan Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratner’s autobiographical work can inspire young and old lawyers to step it up and try to make the world a better place. He condemns tyranny and the police state, showing us how to fight them, even against all odds. Unfortunately, he also reveals a deal-breaking and hypocritical blind spot for Fidel Castro, in the style of Bernie Sanders when he blew his momentum in the 2020 Democratic primary. For example, Ratner mentions that Castro greatly improved literacy, but neglects to mention that Castro controlled with an iron fist what people could read. In passing, he mentions Cuba’s problems with LGBTQ rights, and that Cuba had “gotten better”. This light touch obfuscates that Castro forced thousands of gay people into concentration camps in the style of the Nazis; or that he had zero tolerance for political dissent, murdering and imprisoning thousands of political opponents. He forgets to mention that the Castro family became incredibly wealthy while he ruled, even as he screamed out “revolution!” and the rest of Cuba aside from Castro cronies remained poor and hungry long after this so-called revolution.