Thread: Justice Department plans to fight enemy combatant ruling

Justice Department plans to fight enemy combatant ruling


Associated Press - June 11, 2007 4:53 PM ET

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Justice Department plans to fight a federal court ruling that says the Bush administration cannot hold US residents indefinitely without charging them.

That decision was made by a three-judge panel in Virginia. The Justice Department plans to ask the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling. The department says the president needs to "use all available tools" to "protect Americans from further al-Qaida attack."

The case involves Ali al-Marri (ah-LEE' al-MAH'-ree), a legal US resident, who has been held since 2001. He's accused of having links to al-Qaida terrorists.

The panel ruled the federal Military Commissions Act doesn't strip al-Marri of his constitutional rights to challenge his accusers in court.

The ruling does not ensure his release, but means he can be returned to the civilian court system and be tried on criminal charges.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=6642281&nav=AbC0

The Justice Department plans to fight a federal court ruling that says the Bush administration cannot hold US residents indefinitely without charging them.

Not really surprised are we?