Some lawyers said that in trying to seek a fair result, Judge Janowitz may have overreached.

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"She's a very smart and fair-minded judge, " Jeffrey Kessler, a longtime players-association lawyer said during a recent interview.

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"I think the judge gave a fair and reasonable sentence, " Hochman said.

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At the Bar he was a fine judge, dexterous in argument and scrupulously fair in his rulings.

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The judge was also fair-minded, said Richard Martinez, a Tucson attorney.

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But the judge accepted as fair comment Lim's assertion that Mohtar had practiced a double-standard.

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Defence lawyers claimed the judge had acted improperly and the conversation showed the accused could not expect a fair trial.

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Lawyers for all three men said that official Army statements -- including West's -- appeared to pre-judge the cases, and made it difficult for their clients to receive a fair trial.

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The judge said he was not trying to inhibit the press but wanted to guarantee a fair trial.

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