Judges seek tougher sentence for lawyer in terror case

Federal appeals judges in New York are bickering as they pressure a lower court judge to toughen the sentence of a lawyer convicted of terrorism charges.

The judges decided not to have the entire federal appeals court in Manhattan hear the appeal of lawyer Lynne Stewart's sentence of a little over two years in prison. But they took the unusual step of writing opinions critical of each other in announcing that decision Tuesday.

A three-judge appeals panel last year ordered a resentencing of the 70-year-old Stewart and required her to report to prison. It also upheld her conviction.

Stewart was sentenced to just over two years in prison for providing material support to terrorists for letting an imprisoned Egyptian terrorist client communicate with followers.

- AP