Navy Lawyer in Terror Case Not Promoted

AP ^ | 10/8/6

[SmithL]

The Navy lawyer who led a successful Supreme Court challenge of the Bush administration's military tribunals for detainees at Guantanamo Bay has been passed over for promotion and will have to leave the military, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift, 44, will retire in March or April under the military's "up or out" promotion system. Swift said last week he was notified he would not be promoted to commander.

He said the notification came about two weeks after the Supreme Court sided with him and against the White House in the case involving Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni who was Osama bin Laden's driver.

"It was a pleasure to serve," Swift told the newspaper. He added he would have defended Hamdan even if he had known it would cut short his Navy career.

"All I ever wanted was to make a difference — and in that sense I think my career and personal satisfaction has been beyond my dreams," Swift said.

The Pentagon had no comment Sunday.

A graduate of the University of Seattle School of Law, Swift plans to continue defending Hamdan as a civilian.

[af_vet_1981]

If everyone would watch those they might better understand who the enemy is!!

Sadly, not everyone sees them as the enemy and no amount of videos are going to change that. Only a cold gripping reality is going to change them, and probably too late for their benefit

[Navy Patriot]

Do you remember that fat treasonous lawyer Lynne Stewart ?

The al Queda communications officer?

[jude24]

as treaty law is not subject to civilian court review.

Have a citation to authority for this?

[Drango]

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift thank you for following orders and doing your best...Some men (and women) are called to take the hill, some are called to cook or type the forms. All serve. Thank you for your service.

[af_vet_1981]

The al Queda communications officer?

You could call her that.

Do you think she still has Internet access ?

[July 4th]

The problem is this: the guy needed an attorney. And when you're a military lawyer, it's damned if you do or damned if you don't. If he would have half-assed Hamdan's defense, it would have landed him in the brig. So the alternative was to fully defend the case.

[jude24]

Apparently you never had the joys of a FRmail flame war.

That put a stop to it.

[Navy Patriot]

Why I'm certain of it, Geneva Conventions don't ya know.

[potlatch]

Good sentiments from her!

[af_vet_1981]

After her conviction, the National Lawyers Guild stated: “The U.S. Department of Justice was resolute from day one in making a symbol out of Lynne Stewart in support of its campaign to deny people charged with crimes of effective legal representation. The government is bent on intimidating attorneys from providing zealous representation to unpopular clients.”

Treasonous lawyers hang together.

[potlatch]

I know, and I agree with you.

[editor-surveyor]

"A classy man - and an inspiration to me as an attorney-in-training."

The ACLU is looking for a few 'classy men,' have you been recruited yet?

[george76]

Betty understands what this war is about.

[jude24]

The ACLU is looking for a few 'classy men,' have you been recruited yet?

Not interested in working for the ACLU. Too liberal.

[freema]

"That's because I have consistently argued for the just war theory..."

Maybe if you read the doctrine, instead of operating on a theory, you wouldn't still be arguing. But I'm not betting on that, bud. I'm a conservative and I'm all for the Just War Doctrine. And here's a newsflash, I'm all for defeating the enemy who attacks my family and FRiends. Battle of the Books is so 7th grade when there are planes and bullets flying.

[freema]

Yuuuuuuuuuuuup.

[jude24]

I'm all for defeating the enemy who attacks my family and FRiends.

As am I. But it needs to be via just means, or we might as well not bother. The moral high ground is expensive real estate, but necessary.

[george76]

[editor-surveyor]

"Every lawyer has the ethical duty of zealousness for his client"

Even when his 'client' is someone who has no legal, or moral right to access to our judicial processes? A sworn enemy of this country?

You're a real piece of work!

[gogeo]

Au contraire. The Geneva Convention requires that enemy combatants be given some due process. Once again, that's what makes us better than them.

Live by the letter of the law, die by the letter of the law...surely you know that acccording to a literal reading, illegal combatants (as opposed to soldiers) have no status. You also undoubtedly understand why...