Judge: Gitmo legal documents must be public

AP via SFGate ^ | 6/1/9 | NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge says the United States must publicly reveal the unclassified documents filed in the cases against more than 100 terror suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay.

[SmithL]

Hogan, Thomas Francis

Born 1938 in Washington, DC

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on August 10, 1982, to a seat vacated by William B. Bryant; Confirmed by the Senate on August 20, 1982, and received commission on August 20, 1982. Served as chief judge, 2001-2008. Assumed senior status on May 1, 2008.

Education:
Georgetown University, A.B., 1960

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1966

Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. William B. Jones, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 1966-1967
Counsel, Federal Commission on Reform of Federal Criminal Laws, 1967-1968
Private practice, Rockville, MD, and Washington, DC, 1968-1981
Assistant professor, Potomac School of Law, Washington, DC, 1977-1979
Private practice, Chevy Chase, Maryland and Washington, DC, 1981-1982
Adjunct professor, Georgetown University Law Center, 1986-1992

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

[9YearLurker]

He’s at least 71, is there no retirement age for federal judges?

[theDentist]

While they are ordering documents to be made public, can they include Obama’s birth certificate, and any/all documentation regarding his birth?

[La Lydia]

I would not be surprised if this were to be appealed.

[silverleaf]

the public has standing to see this but not obama’s birth certificate?

[cranked]

Bada PING!

[Always Right]

He’s at least 71, is there no retirement age for federal judges?

If there was, most of the Supreme Court would be gone.

[listenhillary]

Just before Obama does his speech to the Muslim world June 4th.

[Brookhaven]

I’ll take the opposing veiw here.

If they were UNCLASSIFIED, why shouldn’t they be made public?

If there was a security risk involved, then they should have been classified.

Unclassified is not equal to classified.

[9YearLurker]

Okay, so we’ve got policemen retiring at 38, judges serving for 50 years after that. Forget putting lawyers on the bench, why can’t we just take those early police retirees and put them on? It would help out all kinds of municipal budgets.

[deport]

A federal judge says the United States must publicly reveal the unclassified documents filed in the cases against more than 100 terror suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay.

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Why would unclassified documents be with held to begin with?

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Unclassified documents most likely to be released to the FOI act via the ACLU/terrorists.

[Jacquerie]

They may have been “For Official Use Only.” Not for public release.

[Brookhaven]

They may have been “For Official Use Only.” Not for public release.

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So what? I don’t want a government that operates behind closed doors.

For official use only? When did “official” documents become secret?

Other than security reasons (in which case it should be declared a classfied document), I can’t think of any aspect of the government that shouldn’t be out in the open and available for the public to examine.

[Jacquerie]

I responded to your post in an informative and civil tone. For you, the truth sucks. Live with it.

[FreepShop1]

I wish Nixon had refused to turn over the tapes, and then destroyed them. It would have made crap like this easier.

[Repeat Offender]

I can’t think of any aspect of the government that shouldn’t be out in the open and available for the public to examine.

Well, for starters a lot of military publications are "FOUO". Not all of the troops have security clearances and access to classified documents. But, I guess its just fine by you if we release what our techniques, tactics, and procedures are.... I mean who cares if the enemy can study them, learn to counter them, and kill more troops

Or, did it ever cross your mind that some of the items might be taken from classified documents so they could be used in a court of law, but when combined with other unclassified documents give the end reader potentially classified material?

I guess you didn't realize that troops have to put their names on witness statments when they detain a suspect? That they write affidavits of "so-n-so" was in the house and there were x number of explosive devices in there. Nope, the troops names aren't classified, but I know I wouldn't want my name broadcast to every Al Qa'ida and Code Pink wannabe because I did my job...... but what do you care.... its not your name? So what? I don’t want a government that operates behind closed doors.

But, I'll help the readers at home by your most glaring statment I can’t think

No, nobody wants a government that operates solely in the shadows, but it should make you wonder when some judge wants to make a whole lot of stuff public.

[tobyhill]

Obama could classify every single document and then this judges order becomes a nothing.

[Frantzie]

Judges bend over backwards for Islamic terrorists but we cannot see some muslim’s BC.