Supreme Court Ruling Adds to Momentum for Major Changes at Guantanamo

April 2, 2007
Supreme Court Ruling Adds to Momentum for Major Changes at Guantanamo

Today's decision by the Supreme Court not to hear a case challenging the provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that restricted detainees' habeas corpus rights provides fresh impetus to a Congress that was already pushing for major changes to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After the Supreme Court rejected the Bush administration's plan to try Guantanamo detainees before special military commissions in June 2006, Congress quickly responded with the Military Commissions Act that not only allowed evidence obtained by torture, but stripped jurisdiction from U.S. courts to hear habeas corpus claims from Guantanamo detainees. Today's decision simply affirms that legislative action, although the Court did warn that it may still take up this issue in the future.

Let's hope Congress responds to this Supreme Court decision with equal vigor. Several Senators have already introduced legislation to amend the Military Commissions Act to restore habeas rights and prohibit evidence gathered in coercive interrogations. Attention in the House is more focused on efforts led by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) to close Guantanamo and transfer the detainees to military prisons in the United States.