Supreme Court Says Those Held in War on Terror Must Get Day in Court


This week, the U.S. Supreme court issued a historic ruling for civil liberties
with its ruling on behalf of detainees and "enemy combatants" in both the
Guantánamo and Hamdi cases.

The ruling is sending a strong signal to the Bush Administration that even in
times of war, the government must adhere to the Constitution and the rule of
law. Read more here:

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?orgid=n&ID=16019&c=280&MX=1352&H=0

Since 9/11, the Bush Administration has amassed more and more power in the name of fighting terrorism, with very little resistance from Congress, the states or
the majority of the American people. In its ruling that detainees and “enemy
combatants” held by the United States are entitled to challenge their detention
in court, the Court rejected the administration's arguments that its actions in
the war on terror are beyond the rule of law.

This is a historic win for civil liberties and today all of us at the ACLU extend our thanks to the members and supporters who make our work possible. By
speaking out and standing up for civil liberties when others remained silent,
you have played a role in these victories.

"The Supreme Court," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero, "today
unflinchingly asserted the central role of the judiciary in determining the appropriate balance in matters of national security and civil liberties."

"President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft have wrongly asserted that their
actions in the war on terror were lawful and within the scope of the Constitution," Romero said.

"Today's decisions clearly repudiate that assertion and show that the Bush
Administration's war on terror has eroded constitutional rights and respect for
the rule of law. The Guantánamo and Hamdi cases in particular reinforce
longstanding notions of the rights of the detained and accused."

In another enemy combatant case, Rumsfeld v. Padilla, the Justices evaded the
substantive question of Padilla's right to counsel, saying his case was brought
in the wrong venue and must be refiled in South Carolina where Padilla is being
held.

To read the ACLU's full news release on the cases, please click on the link
below:

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?orgid=n&ID=16019&c=280&MX=1352&H=0

For more news stories about the cases, please follow the links below:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/28/scotus.terror.cases/index.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001967838_scotus29.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/29/supremecourt/main626584.shtml