ACLU: Court Rules In Favor Of Transparency In Guantánamo Cases

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/06/01-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2009
1:33 PM


CONTACT: ACLU
Rachel Myers, National ACLU, [phone] or 2666; [e-mail]
Court Rules In Favor Of Transparency In Guantánamo Cases


NEW YORK - June 1 - In an important ruling affecting the public's access to records regarding the cases of Guantánamo detainees, a federal court today denied a government motion to seal unclassified information related to those cases. Judge Thomas F. Hogan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, citing a "First Amendment and common law right to access" judicial records, ruled that the government cannot suppress unclassified documents and must seek court approval to seal specific information.

The following can be attributed to Jonathan Hafetz, attorney with the ACLU National Security Project:

"Today's decision is a victory for transparency. For far too long, the government has succeeded in keeping information about Guantánamo secret, and used secrecy to cover-up illegal detention and abuse. The decision marks an important step towards restoring America's open court tradition that is essential to both accountability and the rule of law."
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The ACLU conserves America's original civic values working in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in the United States by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[Duer 157099]

1. I wonder if he's playing "beat the clock" -- or trying to

Since The Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act of 2009 passed the Senate on Friday, I wonder if there will be a strong push to get evidence released before that bill is signed into law?

Although I suppose the All Powerful Executive can just keep denying access by fiat.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[solstice]

2. There's no point in being pleased. When Obama doesn't like a law,

he has it changed and made retroactive.

[OutNow]

3. Pro Obama, Pro ACLU

I supported Obama in the election and still do. But, the fight for the First Amendment goes on 365 days a year, every year, regardless who lives in the White House.

Some of these court battles go on for many years and span multiple administrations. That's why I've been a member of the ACLU for 33 years.

Time to send them a check!