Posted on 04/04/2011 10:25:10 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The lawyers who spent years fighting to free prisoners at Guantanamo Bay thought they had won in 2008, when the Supreme Court gave detainees a right to go to court and Barack Obama was elected president. But things haven't worked out as they had hoped.
Last month, President Obama reversed a campaign promise and announced plans to keep prisoners at Guantanamo indefinitely. Congress has blocked moving any prisoners from the Cuba detention center to this country, even for a trial. And the high court's decision in June 2008 has been rendered all but meaningless because appellate judges ruled these prisoners held without trial had no right to be released.
And now, after the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens, a series of new appeals seeking the attention of the Supreme Court as soon as Monday may be doomed. It takes five votes to have a majority, and because Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself from these cases, the liberal bloc is not likely to find a fifth vote.
"All three branches of the government are now arrayed against us," said attorney David Remes.
The lawyers who looked to the courts to bring justice to Guantanamo detainees are frustrated that the door leading to freedom proved an illusion.
"There is no judicial remedy" for wrongly held prisoners, said Sabin Willett, a Boston lawyer. It's "been cut off at the knees."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Have not found any confirmation of that however.
KSM to be tried by military commission at Gitmo; Holder set to make announcement today
Election year announcement!
BUMP
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.