Judge orders release of 5 terror suspects at Gitmo

AP via SFGate ^ | 11/20/8 | LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- A federal judge has ordered the release of five Algerian terror suspects who have been held without charges almost seven years at Guantanamo Bay.

In the first civilian court ruling for terror suspects challenging their detention, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon said Thursday that the five men could not be held indefinitely as enemy combatants.

[pollywog]

Here we go!

[SmithL]

Leon, Richard J.

Born 1949 in South Natick, MA

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 10, 2001, to a seat vacated by Norma Holloway Johnson; Confirmed by the Senate on February 14, 2002, and received commission on February 19, 2002.

Education:
College of the Holy Cross, A.B., 1971

Suffolk Law School, J.D., 1974

Harvard Law School, LL.M., 1981

Professional Career:
Law clerk, chief justice and associate justices, Superior Court of Massachusetts, 1974-1975
Law clerk, Hon. Thomas F. Kelleher, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1975-1976
Attorney, Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Department of Justice, 1976-1977
Special assistant U.S. attorney, Civil Division, U.S Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, 1977-1978
Assistant professor of law, St. John's University School of Law, 1979-1983
Senior trial attorney, Criminal Section, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1983-1987
Deputy chief minority counsel, Select 'Iran-Contra' Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 1987-1988
Deputy assistant U.S. attorney general, Environment & Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1988-1989
Private practice, Washington, DC, 1989-2002
Commissioner, White House Fellows Commission, 1990-1993
Chief minority counsel, 'October Surprise' Task Force, Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 1992-1993
Special counsel, 'Whitewater Investigation,' Banking, Finance & Urban Affairs Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 1994
Adjunct professor, Georgetown University School of Law, 1997-present
Special counsel, Ethics Reform Task Force, U.S. House of Representatives, 1997
Commissioner, Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control, 2000-2001

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

[Joiseydude]

Probably be released in this country since it’s doubtful their native country won’t take them back.

[444Flyer]

Just positioning and vying for a place on the Obama Supreme Court, this will earn some brownie points from 0 and his hacks.

[Maelstorm]

Don’t worry Obama will shut Guantanamo down then they will all get to come to America or go home.

[A CA Guy]

Have an executioner awaiting them on their arrival back to there home country.

Can you not think of a better reason for the US Military to no longer take prisoners?

[sickoflibs]

Strategy : Appeal and dump it in Obama’s lap. Let him let the terrorists go. Political gold!

[PISANO]

Kill the enemy before lawyers can get involved.

It is the only way to be sure!!

[Boonie]

They close Gitmo...bring the “detainees” to America...release them.......

First one that kills an American should go to trial along with Obama as co-conspirator to murder...

[navybrat18]

Yes, release these gentlemen into the Judge’s custody. Anybody else want to adopt a terrorist?

[peyton randolph]

Have U.S. Marshals dump the terrorists at the judge’s home...make sure to hang an Israeli flag on the front porch and put the Mohammed cartoons on the front door too...if someone is going to be harmed by these terrorists, let it be the judge who ordered their release.

[IrishMike]

In 1987, he was the Deputy Chief Minority Counsel for the U.S. House Select “Iran-Contra” Committee. From 1992-1993, he was the Chief Minority Counsel to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee’s “October Surprise” Task Force. In 1994, Judge Leon was Special Counsel to the U.S. House Banking Committee for its “Whitewater” investigation.

[subterfuge]

Please forgvie my ignorance, but why DIDN’T the current administration do SOMETHING with these guys before this could occur, especially when they petty much knew some wacko judge would let them go back to the terrorist lives?

[NormsRevenge]

Nominated by George W. Bush on September 10, 2001

wow.

[theDentist]

seems to me that sometime within 7 years we should have been able to hold a military trial. wtf have they bveen sitting on their hands?

[PittsburghAfterDark]

I’m going to say that I understand the need for a place like Gitmo.

What I don’t understand is how no action has been taken from a tribunal point of view within seven years.

I mean even the NVA could put on show trials in a speedier fashion. I don’t understand how our government is dragging this on. Furthermore I don’t see how a federal judge has any jurisdiction over military law.

I guess I’d need an ex-Jag to explain to me in layman’s terms how/when a civilian court can supersede UCMJ or any precedent when US courts have had say in POW status in any of our declared wars.

[NinoFan]

I think the Supreme Court was wrong to rule as it did when it comes to the enemy combatants that were captured overseas. However, I also see no reason why these guys couldn’t have been tried by some sort of military panel shortly after they were picked up.

[Jeddi]

That is total bs this has never happened before in history. that judge is overstepping his authority!

[dbz77]

I wonder what kind of welcome Karzai and his people will give them.