29% Conviction Rate in Terrorism Prosecutions

October 24, 2007

29% Conviction Rate in Terrorism Prosecutions

There was a time when federal prosecutors would consistently win terrorism prosecutions.

From 1993 to 2001, prosecutors in Manhattan convicted some three dozen terrorists through guilty pleas and in six major trials.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the government's track record has been decidedly spottier, and its failure to obtain a single conviction on Monday in its terrorism-financing prosecution of what was once the nation's largest Islamic charity was another in a series of missteps and setbacks.

Juries convicted 9 defendants, 30 defendants pleaded guilty, and
11 pleaded guilty to other charges. There were eight acquittals and four dismissals.

Mistrial declared because soldier believes war in Iraq is a war crime

February 7, 2007
Mistrial declared because soldier believes war in Iraq is a war crime

FORT LEWIS, Washington (Reuters) - A military judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the
court-martial of a U.S. Army officer, who publicly refused to fight in Iraq and criticized the
war.

First Lt. Ehren Watada had faced up to four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if
found guilty on a charge of missing movements for not deploying to Iraq and two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his criticism of the war.

Lt. Col. John Head, the military judge, declared a mistrial after throwing out a "stipulation
of fact" -- an agreement over certain facts of the trial -- that forced the government to ask the
judge for a mistrial instead of arguing its entire case again.