PlusJudge to Bush Admin.: Guantanamo Is Top PriorityJudge to Bush Admin.: Guantanamo Is Top PriorityThe Associated PressA federal judge overseeing Guantanamo Bay lawsuits ordered the Justice Department to put other cases aside and make it clear throughout the Bush administration that the detainees must have their day in court. (July 8)(gitmo file) It was a long in coming SOT: Susan Baker Manning, Center for Constitutional Rights 18:47:010 "The vast majority of men being held at Guantanamo have had cases pending for years upon years and until today have never had a day in court" (Scotus exterior) after last month's Supreme Court ruling that opened courthouse doors to Guantanamo detainees (more detainee file) a Washington judge hosted the first ever hearing over whether they're being held lawfully (group of lawyers 18:48:11) something the detainees lawyers say the Bush administration hoped would never happen SOT: Shayana Kadidal, Center for Constitutional Rights 18:41:22 "Their litigation strategy throughout has been to avoid the day when they actually have to show up in court at a hearing and justify their detention of these men." (White House exterior, followed by Gitmo sign or some exterior) The government says it's already cleared about 20 percent of the roughly 270 Guantanamo detainees for release..and just needs somewhere to send them (Justice Department exterior) while also arguing for more time to bolster the evidence orginally used to justify holding them (Judge Hogan photo in graphic with lettering matching the quote) but Judge Thomas Hogan said he didn't understand why the evidence suddenly needs to be changed, saying "If it wasn't sufficient, then they shouldn't have been picked up" -- and that the Justice Department needs to pick up the pace. SOT: Matt Apuzzo, AP legal affairs writer 18:51:30 "There's nothing going on in the government today that's more important than these cases. The judge told the DOJ, if you need more resources, find em, if you have other cases, put em on the backburner, get these cases done. SOT: Shayana Kadidal, Center for Constitutional Rights 18:38:33 "Today I'm encouraged that the court isn't going to let the government run out the clock." STANDUP: Sagar Meghani 18:54:34 The judge told the DOJ he knows it's complicated and unprecedented, but stressed it must find a way to get things done. And while not setting a date for evidence reviews, the judge indicated he's ready to move much sooner rather than later. Sagar Meghani, The Associated Press, at the federal courthouse, Washington Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: guantanamo detainees judge bush admin.: priority Added: July 8, 2008
