Federal Judiciary

U.S. asks more time on abuse photos appeal

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

The Obama Administration asked the Supreme Court Friday to give it another 30 days to get help from Congress, or else file an appeal in the Court, to block public release of more than four dozen U.S. Army photos that are said to show abuse by U.S. soldiers of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan.   In an application (08A1068), Solicitor General Elena Kagan sought a delay from June 9 — the present deadline to file an appeal — until July 9.

“The additional time…would permit the legislative process to continue and allow the United States to assess further the need to file a petition for a writ of certiorari in light of any new leigslation,” Kagan wrote. “Additional time is also necessary to permit further consultation with other components of the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and other affected agencies about this litigation more generally, and to prepare and print the petition.”

A post discussing this case and the possible appeal can be read here.

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on May 29, 2009 (boomark / email).