So What Does It Mean?

I will not give a long scholarly analysis. It is not my style.

The short and sweet version is that the Guantanamo prisoners have the right to ask the Federal Court in DC (which is where my clients' cases are filed) to rule on whether they are being properly held. This means the government is going to have to charge the men with something and explain why the men should continue to be held. This is difficult for the government because there is no rhyme or reason why many of the men (like Mr. Al-Ghizzawi) are being held.

I also filed an original habeas petition for Mr. Al-Ghizzawi last summer in the Supreme Court. That petition has been sitting quietly in the background all these months. This afternoon I asked the very nice clerk at the Supreme Court if there was any word on what will happen with that petition. I received a response a few hours ago telling me that the petition is set for the judges conference on June 19th and that an order will probably be entered on June 23rd.

In my dream of dreams the Supreme Court will rule on the petition and order that Mr. Al-Ghizzawi be set free... but my best guess is that the Court will send the petition back to the District Court for a prompt hearing.... prompt is not a word that is usually associated with anything gitmo, but I hope for the best. As Studs Terkel said "Hope dies last."

I am scheduled to visit with Mr. Al-Ghizzawi the week of July 14th.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gitmo Prisoners (click here for link to opinion)

Court gives detainees habeas rightsThursday, June 12th, 2008 10:08 am Lyle Denniston Print This Post

In a stunning blow to the Bush Administration in its war-on-terrorism policies, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that foreign nationals held at Guantanamo Bay have a right to pursue habeas challenges to their detention. The Court, dividing 5-4, ruled that Congress had not validly taken away habeas rights.

LONDON ON SUNDAY

Hey lots of events for you londoners... click on the title to see what REPRIEVE has up it's sleeve when Bush comes to town to visit with the queen and Gordon Brown on Sunday.

Later in the evening there is a benefit for Repreive as part of the Massive attack for Meltdown 2008 http://www.reprieve.org.uk/documents/080507ReprievejoinsMassiveAttackforMeltdown2008

With a showing of "Taxi to the Darkside" at the Southbank centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room at 6:30 pm sunday.

I am making a special trip to London for these events (I am actually in The Hague so it is not too far) and hope to see any of you there who happen to be around the London area.

Mozamm Begg, a released Gitmo prisoner and Clive Stafford Smith the Executive Director of Reprieve will also be there.