In case you missed it, federal U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest ruled on Wednesday that controversial ‘indefinite detention’ provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act signed into law last December likely violate the 1st and 5th amendment constitutional rights afforded to citizens. The decision came as a lawsuit brought by seven journalist and activist plaintiffs — including Chris Hedges, Daniel Ellsberg, and Noam Chomsky — challenged the NDAA on those grounds. Citing vagueness in language, the judge ruled in their favor, saying that the provisions could have a “chilling impact on First amendment rights.”
She went on to conclude that “an individual could run the risk of substantially supporting or directly supporting an ‘associated force’ without even being aware that he or she was doing so.” This was exactly the argument of journalists like Hedges who hailed the preliminary injunction as “a tremendous step forward for the restoration of due process and the rule of law” when speaking to the Associated Press. The news agency went on to report:
The government had argued that the law did not change the practices of the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing to sue. In March, the judge seemed sympathetic to the government’s arguments until she asked a government attorney if he could assure the plaintiffs that they would not face detention under the law for their work. She wrote Wednesday that the failure of the government to make such a representation required her to assume that government takes the position that the law covers “a wide swath of expressive and associational conduct.”
The development this week was a significant boost to the integrity of civil liberties. The government refused on numerous occasions to say that the bill would not impede upon 1st amendment activities. Though congressional bipartisan support and the signature of a former constitutional scholar turned President brought the nation to this moment, a conservative coalition joined leftists like Hedges and Chomsky in opposing the unconstitutional NDAA provisions.
Establishment conservatives and liberals were feckless, or worse, outright spinsters and apologists on behalf of it all. Thankfully, unlike them, Judge Forrest exhibited courage and conviction in her ruling this week.
Amen! And to think that the Obama DOJ went to court to defend this legislation. And this after President Obama issued a signing statement saying that he reserved the right not to avail himself to certain parts of the legislation. They must have changed their minds and decided they wanted access to ALL of its provisions. Shame, shame.
Thank god. Im geytting more and more tired of Obama and his counter activity to his rhetoric. what a disapointment he has become.
Great ruling! I’m not gonna defend Obama on this. I’ll be surprised, but relieved, if the government doesn’t appeal it.
Let Boehner take up that shit, like he did with DOMA.
lawsuit > signing statement
Watch the Prison Planet – Obama Impeachment Campaign 2012 video.
http://www.robertlautenforussenate2012.com >> Impeach
Hey Robert, I know you’re a LaRouchie, but I see you on my ballot, under US Senator, as a Republican. Have all the LaRouchies become Republicans when nobody was looking?
There’s one thing I don’t do…and that’s watch prison planet!
Only one thing you don’t do, Gabe? Wow, you are one racy cat!
*Simply Irresistible!
This is great news. He’s done a poor job for our country and he deserves this correct ruling.
*Late news from the news room: 3 homegrown terrorists in Chicago, building Molitov Cocktails at home to deliver to Obama and the Nato conference this week have been apprehended and detained. They were reported to say: We are goin kill a bunch of cops! So, they are being held incommunicado! Where? For how long? Who cares?
Love to know who their pals are, so they can join that party.
Obama the Great Liar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5KXpFQcaxI