Lahore, Dec 14: The US-based National Law Journal has named deposed Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as its lawyer of the year.

Reportpress.com quoted the journal as saying that Justice Chaudhry is not a household name in the US, but we think he should be the lawyer of the year.

He has become an international symbol of an independent judiciary and resistance to the excesses of military rule, it said.

The journal usually names the lawyer of the year from the American legal community. The rare instance of a judge taking such a bold and influential stand against a government in defence of judicial independence and the rule of law prompted the departure this year.

Chaudhry’s example reminds us that no government or person — whether ally or enemy — is above the law, the Daily Times quoted Reportpress.com, as saying.

The Harvard Law School Association recently awarded Justice Chaudhry its highest medal, the Medal of Freedom.

"We at Harvard Law School want Justice Chaudhry and the courageous lawyers in Pakistan to know that we stand with them in solidarity, " said Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan.

"We are proud to be their colleagues in the cause of justice, and we will do all we can to press for the prompt restoration of constitutionalism and legality in Pakistan, " Kagan added.

Earlier, American Bar Association (ABA) President William Neukom on December 4 asked US lawyers to sign a petition asking Musharraf to restore the Constitution, reinstate Justice Chaudhry and other judges and free jailed lawyers and civil leaders. (ANI)