Lawyers take Gitmo prosecutors to court

[Judi Lynn]

Source: MSNBC/Associated Press

Lawyers take Gitmo prosecutors to court
Judges weigh whether detainees may be contacted without their consent
updated 8:19 p.m. CT, Mon., March. 17, 2008

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Lawyers for four Kuwaiti men held at Guantanamo Bay have asked a court to block U.S. military prosecutors from contacting the detainees without their consent, accusing the government Monday of violating legal ethics.

The emergency petition, filed last week in a Washington appeals court, raises concerns over a recent assertion by Guantanamo's chief prosecutor that he does not need the lawyers' permission because they do not represent the detainees before the war-crimes tribunal system.

But Matthew MacLean, a Washington-based attorney for the Kuwaitis, said the Kuwaitis and U.S. federal courts have recognized him and a colleague as the legal representatives — and alleged that government interrogators have told his clients their lawyers are Jewish in a bid to sow mistrust.

"Are these prosecutors bound by the rules that are binding on all prosecutors everywhere?" MacLean said. "Or are these prosecutors going to be allowed to be cowboys, doing whatever they want?"



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23681293/

[madrchsod]

1. 'rules? we don`t need no rules '

meanwhile the democrats in the house and senate roll over and play dead....

[barbtries]

2. yep

ethics? what the fuck are ethics?
the bastards

[Supersedeas]

6. ethics...we're talking about Bush League justice...Gonzo laughs at your ethics

[annabanana]

3. Well, , it seems the military prosecutors at Gitmo are allowed to

use secret evidence (obtained GOD KNOWS how.. . so there seems to be little they can't do.

[gratuitous]

4. Once you cross the torture line

Legal ethics just seems so "what's the big deal?"; after all, once the accused has been waterboarded, sending in the prosecuting attorneys for a little free intimidation hardly seems like something to complain about.

[immoderate]

5. K&R. This is disgusting.

--IMM

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

I'm just so proud of my government