Judge rejects government's request to change rules on attorney/client communications at Guantanamo

A few days ago I reported that the US District Court for the District of Columbia held a hearing regarding a challenge to new restrictions on lawyers representing Guantanamo Bay detainees. The new restrictions would require in some cases that a lawyer sign a "memorandum of understanding" 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.  My original post, which has links to the memorandum and other sources, is available here.

Yesterday, however, in what has been called "a strong rebuke against the government," the judge in the case refused to change the rules that have long governed communication and meetings between Guantanamo Bay detainees and their lawyers.  The judge's opinion is available here.  He agreed with the detainees' counsel, calling the government's effort to modify existing rules an "illegitimate exercise of Executive power."

For more on the story go to the Blog of the Legal Times and the SCotUS blog.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: For more go to the Jurist, The New York Times and How Appealing, which has links to eigth different articles on this.