 The five attorneys who volunteered to defend the communists were familiar with leftist causes and supported the defendants ' rights to espouse socialist viewpoints . They were Abraham Isserman , George W. Crockett Jr . , Richard Gladstein , Harry Sacher , and Louis F. McCabe . Defendant Eugene Dennis represented himself . The ACLU was dominated by anti @-@ communist leaders during the 1940s , and did not enthusiastically support persons indicted under the Smith Act ; but it did submit an amicus brief endorsing a motion for dismissal of the charges . 
