Monday, August 20, 2012

Court considers changes to rules regarding representation of detainees at Guantanamo -- UPDATED

Last Friday, the US District Court for the District of Columbia held a hearing regarding a challenge to new restrictions on lawyers representing Guantanamo Bay detainees who have had their habeas corpus challenges denied or dismissed. Reportedly, lawyers for detainees argued they are concerned that the federal government is moving to "hamstring" the rights of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.  According the reports, Chief Judge Royce Lamberth expressed skepticism about the new restrictions, which in some cases require a lawyer to sign a "memorandum of understanding" (MOU) to continue to be able to meet with a client, making any meetings or communications with a client "subject to the authority and discretion" of the Guantanamo commanding officer. A copy of the MOU is available here.  For more (and more links) on this story go the the Jurist and the Blog of the Legal Times.

UPDATE (8/20):  There is another article on the subject in the SCotUS blog.

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