Constitutional Law

Ensuring Access to Justice for Detainees in the 'War on Terror'

Just in time for the Supreme Court’s decision in Boumediene v. U.S., a panel of distinguished experts discussed Ensuring Access to Justice for Detainees in the ‘War on Terror’ at ACS’s 2008 National Convention.

The panel focused on who should be detained and where, what should happen to the detainees currently being held at Guantanamo, and how detainees should be treated. It included discussion of the rules and policies that should govern interrogation and ensure clear prohibitions on torture. It also considered where and how terrorism suspects should be tried and whether national security courts are necessary.

Panelists included:

• Moderator, Judge Marsha S. Berzon, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Joanne Mariner, Director of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program, Human Rights Watch
• Alberto J. Mora, Vice President and General Counsel, International Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Deborah Pearlstein, LAPA Visiting Scholar, Princeton University
• Benjamin Wittes, Fellow & Research Director in Public Law, The Brookings Institute

Here is video of the discussion.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).