It's a rehabilitation center, but it seems like a punishment center," Mr. Trujillo said, "because they punish even the families and lawyers.

The changes were intended to punish lawyers who filed claims not for the purpose of redressing their clients' injuries, but to use the system to harass enemies through costly lawsuits, endless motions and fact-finding fishing expeditions.

Chinese authorities often cite violations of state secrets, broadly defined as anything that affects the security of the state, to punish journalists, lawyers, doctors, government officials or others who challenge the Communist Party.

The judge, Francis T. Murphy Jr., is accused of intervening in at least three politically sensitive cases to help his friends and to punish lawyers he did not like.

According to the Associated Press, the new regulations would serve to "allow authorities to punish lawyers ... for actions such as talking to the media or even causing 'traffic troubles.'"

Consider Charles Stimson, the deputy assistant secretary of state for detainee affairs, who has been trying to spin his way out of his loathsome attempt to punish lawyers who represent inmates of the Guantánamo Bay internment camp.

His case is typical of efforts to punish lawyers, journalists and participants in environmental, health and religious groups who expose abuses or organize people in a manner officials consider threatening.

Both shows punish unscrupulous lawyers while reveling in their shameful practices - hate the sinner, love the sin.

To the Editor: Re "Apology Not Accepted" (editorial, Jan. 19): I share your outrage at Charles D. Stimson's "loathsome attempt to punish lawyers who represent inmates of the Guantánamo Bay internment camp."

Justice Murphy, a 69-year-old jurist who has served on the bench for 38 years, had been accused in 1989 of intervening in four politically sensitive disciplinary proceedings to help friends and punish lawyers he did not like.