Judge reverses Guantanamo ruling-Decision reinstates suits challenging indefinite detention at milit

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/AP

A judge Friday reversed his ruling that created new hurdles for some lawyers seeking to visit clients held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.

District Court Judge Ricardo Urbina in Washington reinstated 16 lawsuits challenging the indefinite confinement of about 40 men held at the military prison on a U.S. base in Cuba.

Last month, Urbina dismissed the petitions of habeas corpus — a ruling that prompted the Department of Justice to warn attorneys for detainees that they would be barred from any contact with their clients unless they filed new challenges and agreed to tighter restrictions on visits and letters.

Attorneys for detainees asked the judge to reconsider the ruling and he did, while noting the Justice Department's move to limit access to the prisoners.

"This court expresses no small concern over the Department of Justice precipitously disrupting petitioners' access to their counsel," Urbina wrote.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21155459/

[truthisfreedom]

1. More bad news for cheney's gitmo stupidity.

There will be no solution for the Gitmo dilemma, just like there will be no solution for the illegal Iraq invasion. When you start off with a false premise, you can never recover. All you can do is keep lying.

[aquart]

2. Clinton appointee.

[maseman]

3. Judge reverses Guantanamo ruling

Source: MSNBC/AP

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A judge Friday reversed his ruling that created new hurdles for some lawyers seeking to visit clients held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.

District Court Judge Ricardo Urbina in Washington reinstated 16 lawsuits challenging the indefinite confinement of about 40 men held at the military prison on a U.S. base in Cuba.

...........................................................

Attorneys for detainees asked the judge to reconsider the ruling and he did, while noting the Justice Department's move to limit access to the prisoners.

"This court expresses no small concern over the Department of Justice precipitously disrupting petitioners' access to their counsel," Urbina wrote.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21155459/

[DeepModem Mom]

4. K&R

[gratuitous]

5. It seems the perps are the only ones who think this is legal

I'm surprised, though, that Judge Urbina would reverse his own decision on a simple motion for reconsideration. Those motions are almost always just a pro forma procedure to exhaust all of a party's remedies before moving on to the next appellate step. I wonder what Judge Urbina thought would happen if he ruled against the prisoners? The government's immediate statement to the prisoners' counsel that they wouldn't have access to their clients would seem to logically follow from his ruling.

The good news is that under Article I Section 9, we don't seem to have had sufficient grounds (invasion or rebellion) that would permit the selective suspension of habeas corpus. There isn't an exception for being power-mad or wet-your-pants scared, so the Bush Justice Department is going to have a rough go of convincing a higher court that there is a screaming necessity for this law.