Genarlow Wilson's Lawyer and the Media

From the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, a bit of skepticism about Genarlow's lawyer and why she is using the media and whether it is in her client's best interest:

Before B.J. Bernstein begins her frequent news conferences, she slowly and clearly spells her name for reporters covering the child molestation case against her client, Genarlow Wilson.

She warns a television cameraman when he is blocking the shot of a competitor. And Bernstein, who tops out at 5 feet, obligingly stands on an equipment box rather than force TV reporters to lower their microphones.

She is the feisty defense lawyer taking on Douglas County prosecutors, the Georgia attorney general's office and the state courts themselves, all through a sophisticated media blitz. She set up a Web site, www.wilsonappeal.com. She hired a media relations company. With her help, the case has continued to attract national news media attention. Wilson's story has appeared on CNN and ESPN and in The New York Times.

Bernstein is seeking to free Wilson from prison, where he has spent more than two years of a 10-year sentence for receiving oral sex from a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. His sentence, Bernstein argues, is cruel and unusual punishment for a teenager who had consensual sex with another teen, though the age of legal consent in Georgia is 16.

Her media-savvy approach has invited criticism as well as attention.

"There does appear to be more of an attempt for publicity and future book and movie deals and limousines and Web sites and publicists, that you begin to wonder whether or not Genarlow is the highest priority," said state Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), who has been outspoken in his criticism of Wilson. "When you have a case, you try it in court. When you don't have a case, you try it in the media.

"That is what is going on."

Bernstein said she is not seeking publicity for herself, saying she is trying to highlight what she asserts is an injustice in Wilson's case so it won't happen again.

"Letting the world know about what is happening to Genarlow Wilson," she said, "is the only reason we have a shot at saving Genarlow Wilson and protecting other kids."

More of the story here.  In addition, the Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments in the case today.