"The Russian Government has instructed its Minister at Peking to make the most vigorous representations on the subject."

Mr. Stimson, a former Navy defense lawyer, wrote in his letter that "I believe that our justice system requires vigorous representation."

"Whether it's me or someone else, the judge is likely to obtain vigorous representation," I tell him.

"The counterpressure is to remember why you went to law school and to deliver vigorous representation to your clients."

Poor children and parents should also have reliable access to vigorous representation.

It was agreed that more vigorous representations would have to be made.

His heterodox views on what constitutes vigorous representation of a client once led Chief Justice Warren E. Burger to call for his disbarment.

The plaintiff is thus likely to receive more vigorous representation than the defendant, which is unfair.

"I think that vigorous and effective representation doesn't necessarily have to mean exploitation of racial or gender bias," said Elizabeth Schneider, an associate professor at Brooklyn Law School.

I urge you, Mr President, to make vigorous representations to the Belgian Government, calling for a reversal of this decision.