Judge Orders the Release of Five GTMO Detainees

Breaking news: Federal Judge Richard J. Leon just ruled that five Algerians held without charge at Guantanamo Bay since 2002 have to be released. (Daphne’s been covering the case.) American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony Romero comments:

“Today’s decision is another nail in the coffin of the Bush administration’s lawless and failed Guantánamo policies. Under the scrutiny of a federal court, the problems with this administration’s illegal detention policies are clear. If there is in fact enough evidence to prosecute the sixth detainee who will continue to be held, he should be immediately charged in civilian court or a traditional military court where constitutional safeguards apply. It is antithetical to our constitutional principles and American values to hold people indefinitely without charge because the president says so – but it should not have taken seven years to get to this point. If the Bush administration had its way, there would have been no judicial oversight and no way to challenge cases like these. Now that President-elect Obama has reaffirmed his commitment to shut down the Guantánamo prison and its shameful military commissions, we believe that all pending cases should be tried in time-tested, federal civilian or military courts that uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.”