Military Lawyers Blast Guantánamo Mail Search As Violating Rights, Ethics – Military lawyers for Guantánamo detainees who could someday be put to death are accusing the new

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 16, 2012 -- Military lawyers for Guantánamo detainees who could someday be put to death are accusing the new prison commander of censoring protected attorney-client documents, raising a new legal controversy that spotlights ongoing concern about the fairness of possible military trials.

The Obama administration reformed the military commissions in consultation with Congress to give accused terrorists greater rights. However, an order by the new prison commander that all attorney-client mail be reviewed for contraband, including information that the commander argues the detainees shouldn’t be allowed to have has attorneys crying foul.

The Pentagon’s chief defense counsel for military commissions, Marine Col. Jeffrey Colwell, has instructed defense lawyers to stop sending their clients privileged mail, saying the prison camps policy of inspecting attorney-client mail violates the lawyers’ ethical obligations. For a week now, defense lawyers have honored his instruction.

Defense Counsel     Guant namo detainees     Marine Col. Jeffrey Colwell     military commissions     Obama Administration     union resource center     www.unionresourcecenter.com