Seattle Lawyer John Henry Browne Says He Plans to Defend US Staff Sgt. Accused in 16 Afghan Slayings

A well-known Seattle criminal defense lawyer, John Henry Browne, says he has been retained by a U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan, the News-Tribune reports. The unidentified 38-year-old staff sergeant is “from here, and he knows who I am,” said Browne. His new client, not yet criminally…

Mar 15, 2012 8:35 PM CDT

Holder Calls US Citizenship a ‘Relevant Constitutional Consideration’ in Targeted Killings Overseas

When determining whether the United States is justified in placing terrorist operatives overseas on a so-called kill list without first seeking court approval, their American citizenship is a “relevant constitutional consideration” but “alone does not make such individuals immune from being targeted,” Attorney General Eric Holder told law students at…

Mar 7, 2012 2:43 PM CST

Gitmo Courts Impose Lighter Than Expected Sentences

Military commissions at Guantanamo have been criticized for lacking protections, but so far they have imposed lighter than expected sentences in six out of seven cases. The sentences were more lenient than those often handed out in civilian courts for similar offenses, the Associated Press reports. As one example, the…

Mar 5, 2012 2:17 PM CST

Obama Takes Advantage of Waiver Provision in Terrorism Law

Republicans who back a military detention requirement in a recent terrorism law intend to hold hearings on President Obama’s decision on Tuesday to take advantage of a waiver provision. Obama issued an order that exempts broad categories of terrorism suspects from the military detention requirement and gives civilian authorities broad…

Feb 29, 2012 4:25 PM CST

Soldier Bradley Manning Charged with Aiding Enemy in WikiLeaks Case, May Get Life If Convicted

Charges were formally brought today in a court-martial against a U.S. Army soldier accused of responsibility for the largest leak of American intelligence documents in history. Pfc. Bradley Manning, 24, is accused of providing hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks. He is charged with aiding the enemy, among other…

Feb 24, 2012 12:48 AM CST

Michelle Obama, Defense Officials Join ABA in Urging More ‘License Portability’ for Military Spouses

Taking up a cause promoted by the American Bar Association, the nation’s first lady and defense officials are pushing for increased “license portability” for military spouses who must often move from one jurisdiction to another in support of service members’ careers. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of vice…

Feb 18, 2012 12:07 AM CST

Lawyer Sues Over New Gitmo Policy Requiring Review of Attorney Mail to Detainees

A lawyer who filed suit in Washington, D.C., seeking relief from a rule that requires officials at the Guantanamo Bay military prison to review attorney-client mail, is at least the second to do so. James Connell’s suit, which names Rear Adm. David Woods as a defendant, was filed in federal…

Feb 10, 2012 6:12 PM CST

ABA Urges Easier Bar Admission for Lawyers Who Are Military Spouses

Military spouses who are also lawyers have unique needs when forced to move frequently, and bar officials should accommodate them, according to a resolution passed unanimously on Monday by the ABA House of Delegates. Resolution 108 urges state and local bar admission authorities to offer accommodations for these lawyers that…

Feb 6, 2012 9:12 PM CST

Law Firm, Police Hit By Hack Attacks; Lawyer Cell Phone Records Reportedly Accessed

A number of organizations, including at least one law firm, which were targeted late last week in online attacks for which the hacktivist collective known as Anonymous has claimed the blame are still working to get their websites back online. Meanwhile, confidential information that seemingly was obtained in the hack…

Feb 6, 2012 8:00 PM CST

Anonymous Hackers Say They Stole Email from Haditha Sgt.‘s Defense Team for ‘People’s Trial’

The hacktivist collective known as Anonymous claims to have obtained material from a law firm’s computer system concerning its defense of a controversial U.S. Marine accused of responsibility for the 2005 slayings of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Anonymous says it retrieved about three gigabytes of “court mails, faxes, transcriptions…

Feb 3, 2012 9:01 PM CST

ACLU Sues DOJ to See ‘Targeted Killing’ Legal Justification Memos

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued to compel the Justice Department release of memos disclosing the legal justification for strikes that have killed U.S. citizens abroad. A lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday follows the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-Yemeni citizen and suspected al-Qaida militant who was…

Feb 3, 2012 5:48 PM CST

Constitutional Dilemma: The Power to Declare War Is Deeply Rooted in American History

Feb 1, 2012 11:35 AM CST

War Powers Belong to the President

Feb 1, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Only Congress Can Declare War

Feb 1, 2012 11:20 AM CST

Lawyer Who Backs Easier Bar Admission for Military Spouse JDs Is Contest Finalist

A lawyer who founded a support network for military spouses with law degrees is one of 30 finalists in a competition for military spouse of the year. Mary Reding, co-founder of the Military Spouse JD Network, is one of five finalists in a category for spouses of National Guard members.…

Jan 20, 2012 11:30 AM CST