Terror Case Has Lawyer With Several Distinctions

By BENJAMIN WEISERFEB. 21, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/nyregion/terror-case-has-lawyer-with-several-distinctions.html?_r=0

When the terrorism trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden, begins next month in Manhattan, his defense team will include one lawyer with a particularly interesting background.

Zoë J. Dolan is proficient in Arabic, has lived in the Middle East and is the only member of the defense team with a government security clearance, entitling her to review classified discovery materials in the case and attend classified hearings.

But Ms. Dolan, 36, has another distinguishing attribute: She is transgender, an aspect of her personal life that she says she has not raised with Mr. Abu Ghaith or any other client.

Sad commentary on society that this is news.

"The lawyer is Bulgarian"
"The lawyer is over 6'5" tall"
"The lawyer practices the Hindu religion"

None of these would merit mention, much less a news story.

Why is it remarkable that a lawyer should be transgender? I know several.

Please, please, please, let it not be because it's news to the NYT readers that a transgender person would be sane and intelligent enough to practice law.