ACLU assembles combatant detainee defense teams

[Cylinder]

Groups to Help Defend Detainees at Guantánamo

The American Civil Liberties Union and one of the country’s leading lawyers’ groups, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said Thursday that they had assembled experienced teams of lawyers to defend some of the most notorious detainees at Guantánamo, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who has said he was the chief planner of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The joint statement by the two groups said they were preparing an $8 million program to oppose vigorously the government’s prosecutions of at least seven of the detainees who were once held in secret Central Intelligence Agency prisons.

Those detainees, five of whom have been charged with participation in the Sept. 11 attacks, include men who were held in harsh conditions and subjected to aggressive interrogation techniques like waterboarding. The groups portrayed their effort as part of an American tradition of providing vigorous representation to unpopular defendants.

From the Miami Herald:

he American Civil Liberties Union, which for years has scorned the Pentagon's military commissions as ''kangaroo courts,'' announced Friday that it will mount an effort to provide top civilian defense attorneys for alleged terrorists facing trial at Guantánamo, notably the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Former Attorney General Janet Reno is among top lawyers who have endorsed the $8.5 million effort, which will helpdefray the expenses of civilian defense attorneys working on the terrorism cases. Under the military commissions scheme, the Pentagon will not reimburse volunteer civilian attorneys for their expenses.

ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said a major thrust of the effort will be to defend Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who military officials say confessed to masterminding the 9/11 attacks and several other terrorist actions.

 

[fishbob]

Yeah? So?

 

[Cylinder]

Yeah? So?

I just wanted you to know about it. That's the way I roll.

 

[Hutch]

Good. John Adams would be proud.

 

[Sefarst]

Every day I'm given more and more reason to join the ACLU.

 

[Cleon]

Good. John Adams would be proud.

In a few words, Hutch manages to say everything that needs to be said.

Nominated.

 

[Round Robin]

Good. John Adams would be proud.

Brilliant economy of words.

Nomination seconded.

 

[IchabodPlain]

Good. John Adams would be proud.

Hah, indeed!

(Just watched the Boston Massacre episode of John Adams on HBO last night, if anyone hasn't caught the show, you are DEFINITELY missing out).


ETA: Oh, I see I've been beaten to this. I too would recommend nomination for Hutch's post.