Jan 29th, 2009
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 4:04pm	National Security

Judge Finds President Obama's Order to Stay Gitmo Proceedings "Unpersuasive"

The night of President Obama's inauguration — while he and First Lady Michelle Obama were hitting the inaugural ball circuit — an executive order arrived at Guantanamo ordering government prosecutors to request a 120-day stay on all proceedings there. Nearly all of the judges presiding over these cases granted the stay, but today we learned that one judge, Lt. Col. James Pohl, has denied the continuance, and arraignment is still scheduled for February 9 in the case of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who's accused of planning the 2000 U.S.S. Cole attack. The BBC reports:

Judge James Pohl said the request to halt the trial to allow a review by the new administration was "unpersuasive".

Judge Pohl said that the trial of Mr Nashiri would go ahead.

Al-Nashiri is being represented by a team of military and civilian lawyers, including Nancy Hollander of the ACLU's John Adams Project and Lt. Cmdr. Steven Reyes.

Stay tuned.

Permalink |	National Security

Tags: Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, Close Guantanamo

1. liberal hater Says:
   Jan 29th, 2009 at 5:35pm

   Thank you God. There are still some judges out there who have not become left-wing liberal activist or "quizlings".

   Judge Pohl is a real, patriotic American who loves his country, unlike the ACLU (also known as the fifth column) in America.

   Good job judge Pohl.

2. BillZ Says:
   Jan 29th, 2009 at 6:05pm

   Good for him! Seems like not everyone has had their honor stripped away. This terrorist is responsible, by his own admission PRIOR to capture, for the cowardly attack on the USS Cole.

   Bless the Judge.

3. Ted Says:
   Jan 29th, 2009 at 8:03pm

   The Joint Chiefs of Staff HAVE AN ABSOLUTE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY to stand behind Guantanamo Military Judge James Pohl UNTIL OBAMA OVERCOMES “RES IPSA LOQUITUR” BY SUPPLYING HIS LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND PROVING HIS ELIGIBILITY TO BE PRESIDENT UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE US CONSTITUTION.

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti cle/2009/01/29/AR2009012902021.html?wprss=rss_nation

4. Moses Says:
   Jan 30th, 2009 at 5:27pm

   I see this site brings in "teh stoopid" with both barrels. It reminds me of the Dover decision, the poor judge, a conservative, Republican appointee got death threats because the wing-nuts didn't like the fact the judge was upholding the Constitution.

   Now some wing-nut judge decides to thumb his nose at the Commander-in-Chief and he's a hero, while all the rest are somehow a bunch of pinko-commie judges. Even though a 120-day stay is no big deal. Hell, just legal common courtesy which the judge can't abide in his desire to rail-road the defendent.