(Senate Judiciary) Panel clears bill giving detainees court access

[maddezmom]

Source: Miami Herald

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would allow terror suspects at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to challenge their detention in federal court cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning, setting up a floor fight over the rights of detainees held in the island prison camps.

The committee approved the bill, 11-8, with all of the panel's Republicans except Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania voting against it.

The bill was sent to the full Senate without debate, but Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said the lack of debate ``doesn't mean we'll not have people speaking out.''

Citing this week's decisions by two military judges to throw out charges against two detainees, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the committee chair, said existing law governing the detainees is ``inadequate.''



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/131792.html

[sakabatou]

1. A step closer for human rights.

[maddezmom]

2. Senate Begins Real Push on Habeas Corpus

Senate Begins Real Push on Habeas Corpus
Ari Melber

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee passed an important bill to restore habeas corpus, the sacrosanct Constitutional right to challenge government detention in court, by a vote of eleven to eight.

Habeas corpus was revoked by last year's Military Commissions Act, which has been assailed as unconstitutional and un-American by leaders across the political spectrum. Today's habeas bill was backed by the Judiciary Committee's Democratic Chairman, Patrick Leahy, and its Republican Ranking Member, Arlen Specter. "The drive to restore this fundamental right has come from both sides of the aisle," said Sharon Bradford, an attorney at the bipartisan Constitution Project, in response to today's vote. "Restoring America's commitment to the rule of law is not a partisan cause; it is a patriotic one," she added.


more:http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=203303

[maddezmom]

3. ACLU Applauds Senate Judiciary Committee Action Restoring Habeas Corpus Due Process Rights (6/7/2007

ACLU Applauds Senate Judiciary Committee Action Restoring Habeas Corpus Due Process Rights (6/7/2007)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee’s action to restore the crucial writ of habeas corpus. Today, the committee meets to mark up pending legislation, including S. 185 - a bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. The habeas bill is expected to pass out of committee today and head to the Senate floor within the month.

The legislation to restore constitutional rights is in response to last year’s Military Commission Act, which stripped the constitutional right to habeas corpus from detainees in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. The MCA was a huge setback to civil liberties and was rushed through Congress in the weeks before the 2006 elections. The habeas bill would begin to undo the wrongs of last year.

"The Judiciary Committee is acting today to restore one of the most fundamental rights in America, the great writ of habeas corpus," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. "It is clear that the kangaroo court at Guantanamo Bay is not constitutional, as was made clear by the dismissal of charges against a Canadian citizen by a military judge on Monday. The process needs to be scrapped and Congress needs to treat the detainees in the war on terror in a just manner that begins with restoring habeas corpus."

more:http://www.aclu.org/safefree/detention/30027prs20070607.html

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