Litigation

Decision Delayed on Terror Trials? Venue

By Peter Hardin

Any decision on where federal authorities will try accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four co-defendants is on hold and probably will not come until after the November mid-term elections.

A Washington Post article laid out that forecast based on anonymous sources. It quoted the sources as saying the decision no longer rests in the hands of the Department of Justice, but with the White House.

The delays are linked with stalled negotiations on closing the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay. In addition, a number of Republicans have opposed holding the terror trials in federal courtrooms. Attorney General Eric Holder announced last year the defendants would be tried in federal court in New York City, but the administration later signaled it was rethinking that plan (see Gavel Grab).

You can read more about detainee issues from Gavel Grab or from the Justice at Stake issues page on Civil Liberties and National Security.

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 05, 2010 (boomark / email).