Litigation

Holder Backs Dual Options for Terror Trials

By Peter Hardin

Attorney General Eric Holder has expressed a preference for keeping an option to use civilian courts, as well as military commissions, for trials of foreign terrorism suspects.

Addressing an awards dinner at the Constitution Project, a partner of Justice at Stake, Holder alluded to a proposal in Congress to bar such prosecutions in civilian courts, according to a Washington Post article.

“The proposal by some respected leaders in Congress to ban completely the use of civilian courts in prosecutions of terrorism-related activity obscures some basic facts and allows campaign slogans to overtake legal reality,” he said. “”There’s no question that if such a plan advances, it would seriously harm our national security.”

To learn more about the controversy over whether to try terror suspects in civilian courts or military tribunals, visit Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 16, 2010 (boomark / email).