By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 9:55am
If the government can lock you up indefinitely whenever it wishes the idea of freedom of expression and of loyal opposition becomes meaningless.
-Nat Miranda, CA
Thanks for always being there when we need you most. Thanks to you, none of us can disappear into captivity by those in authority. This is what makes democracy possible: the ri
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 9:54am
Dear Habeas, We care so much about you that in November, we wrote a Resolution calling on Congress for your restoration. Our Resolution went all the way from our chapter to the Democratic National Committee which adopted it formally in January. We won't let you down, because we defend the U.S. Constitution - even when those who have sworn to do so
All of this has created ambiguity about a subject that cries out for clarity. Torture violates basic norms of American society; it is wrong wherever practiced and by whatever euphemism. If the administration persists in defining torture down, Congress should push
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 6:41am
Excellent op-ed in the Post today by David Kay, the former weapons inspector and head of the Iraq Survey Group, and Michael German, a policy counsel at the ACLU in Washington. Takes to task the overuse of the so-called "state secrets" privilege, which, though not formally adopted by Congress in the Federal Rul
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:48pm
Suspending Habeas Corpus is another step down the road to becoming that which we profess to hate. "The terrorists" really ARE winning.
-George Cumberland, RI
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
-John Michael Scottsdale, AZ
Without Habeas Corpus, there is no democr
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:46pm
The Magna Carta established the right to a writ of habeas corpus for John's barons. As a part of the British unwritten constitution, it has become one of the most important pillars of our English Heritage. If we rebelled against Great Britain because it did not respect its own conerstone of English rights for its 13 colonies, why should we tod
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:55pm
So, it's HC's birthday today. Three cheers for the jolly little green fellow, wherever he may be in these dark constitutional times. ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero gives us a little history and a little inspiration (and a little country and a little rock and roll) in Read More»
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:49pm
Dear Habeas, Happy Birthday! It has been pointed out that even during the most dismal periods of the Dark Ages in Europe that Habeas Corpus was still always upheld. The United States is quickly becoming a rogue nation that represents fear and does not protect human rights - even for its own people - instead of a model for leadership and freedom in t
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:30pm
In response to the other day's post about the al-Marri decision, reader Robin C. poses an excellent question:
Why, if the Court has so ruled, is a Habeas Corpus Restoration Act needed at all?
If the constitutional habeas right still applies, as before 9/11, then doesn’t it weaken its position if a mere statute must be passed
By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:19pm
To even consider taking a person's freedom indefinitely without showing good cause flies in the face of decency. To say the suspension of Habeas Corpus is confined to individuals who are a threat to national security does not change the abusive nature of the situation. This is really something for the patriotic to get out the word that "FREEDOM
