Judge: Cuba Detainees Must Have Lawyers

AP ^ | 10/20/2004 | Gina Holland

[ezfindit]

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that terror suspects held in Cuba must be allowed to meet with lawyers, and that the government cannot monitor their conversations.

In a sharp rebuke of the Bush administration, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said the administration "attempts to erode this bedrock principle" of attorney-client privacy with "a flimsy assemblage" of arguments.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that the 600 foreign-born men then held in the Navy-run prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could challenge their captivity in American courts.

[cake_crumb]

Yep. Chalk up another point for the Clintonistas. Which now translates into Kedwardsistas.

[dennisw]

Photo:  Beverly Rezneck  Chambers:  (202) 354-3340

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly Judge Kollar-Kotelly was appointed to the United States District Court in May 1997.  She received a B.A. in 1965 from The Catholic University of America and a J.D. in 1968 from Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America.  Following law school, she served as law clerk to Judge Catherine B. Kelly of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.  From 1969 to 1972, Judge Kollar-Kotelly was an attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and then served as the chief legal counsel to Saint Elizabeths Hospital until 1984.  She was appointed Associate Judge of the D.C. Superior Court in October 1984, and served as Deputy Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division from 1995 until her appointment to the federal bench. (Effin' Clinton appointee) Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been a Fellow of the American Bar Association, a founding member of the Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine in a joint teaching program on mental health and the law, and chair of the Board of the Art Trust for Superior Court.  Judge Kotelly was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to serve as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure from June 2000 through May 2002, and in May 2002 Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Judge Kotelly to serve as Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which is a 7-year appointment.

[KidGlock]

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly

"Judge Kollar-Kotelly was appointed to the United States District Court in May 1997. She received a B.A. in 1965 from The Catholic University of America and a J.D. in 1968 from Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America.

"Following law school, she served as law clerk to Judge Catherine B. Kelly of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. From 1969 to 1972, Judge Kollar-Kotelly was an attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and then served as the chief legal counsel to Saint Elizabeths Hospital until 1984.

"She was appointed Associate Judge of the D.C. Superior Court in October 1984, and served as Deputy Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division from 1995 until her appointment to the federal bench.

"Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been a Fellow of the American Bar Association, a founding member of the Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine in a joint teaching program on mental health and the law, and chair of the Board of the Art Trust for Superior Court.

"Judge Kotelly was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to serve as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure from June 2000 through May 2002, and in May 2002 Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Judge Kotelly to serve as Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which is a 7-year appointment. "

http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/kotelly-bio.html

[ezfindit]

That would work! We can have Orthodox men in Beslan have at them to release the tension and grief they suffered at the hands of the Radical Islamic terrorists.

[cynicom]

So far the government has done zip concerning the detainees. No hangings nothing.

Then look at the other side of the coin, they were quick to get enlisted people in the dock for quick punishment after the prison scandal. Not one officer has been in the dock. Seems there is no one in charge there.

Looks like American justice goes after the easy pickings.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

When FDR encountered illegal combatants on US soil, he simply snuffed them, regardless of whether or not they could claim US citizenship. SCOTUS gave him the thumbs up.

[pointsal]

This is an impossible task-- Lawyers getting security clearance and entering Cuba without going through Canada. :)

[cake_crumb]

Scary isn't it? A judge specializing in foreign intelligence is a a Clinton-appointed, terrorist loving Rehnquist suckup?

[FreedomCalls]

Gauntanamo Bay Naval Base IS US territory.

No it's not. GITMO is sovereign Cuban territory for which the U.S. pays rent. A "status of forces agreement" agreed to between the U.S. and Cuba governs how its occupants are treated. Or is supposed to. The fact that Cuba has not signed such an agreement is why Cuba was chosen for Camp Delta in the first place.

[Just Lori]

THESE ARE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS. THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ENEMY. THESE PEOPLE ARE TERRORISTS. THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CUT A LAWYER'S HEAD OFF BECAUSE HE/SHE IS AN AMERICAN!

[dennisw]

Rehnquist is blame for appointing her to ---->>>>

May 2002 Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Judge Kotelly to serve as Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which is a 7-year appointment.

**** I wonder if she made this decision in the "Intelligence Surveillance Court" or as a Federal judge. I think the latter.

[dsc]

"U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly "

Get back in the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans, woman. Jurisprudence is men's work.

[cake_crumb]

Federal judge...but the implications should still worry us.

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly

GET HER IMPEACHED AND REMOVED. NOW!!!!!!!!! She is aiding and abetting the enemy.

[Stopislamnow]

The administrations answer should be: Eff off, try and enforce your ruling judge.

[clee1]

Really????

I didn't realize that was its status.

If this is, in fact, the case; the Aministration should tell her to go pound sand.

[Max Combined]

no

[Max Combined]

They are not criminals, they are detainees because they are illegal combatants.

[Chaguito]

Let them all go. Follow them, and at the first sign of renewed "activity", neutralize them. Certainly, we can shadow 600 terrorists, no?

[pollywog]

Our courts are going to DESTROY OUR COUNTRY........