Prominent Bipartisan Group Supports Trial of GTMO Detainees in Federal Court

A bipartisan group of more than 120 judges, prosecutors, diplomats, former members of Congress and high-level military and government officials yesterday released a proposed plan for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and trying all suspected terrorists in civilian federal court.

“Some have opposed the closing of Guantanamo because they believe there is no viable alternative approach to handling terrorist suspects,” said Thomas Pickering, former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations, in a statement released yesterday. “This declaration presents a careful plan for finally bringing terrorists to justice in full keeping with our Constitution, as well as for protecting our nation’s values, security, and commitment to our international obligations.”

The bipartisan declaration, coordinated by Human Rights First and the bipartisan Constitution Project, opposes indefinite detention without charge and supports the trial of all terrorism suspects in federal courts.