Prosecuting Terrorism Cases in the Federal Courts

Multimedia

Video: Federal Courts Work

As the Obama Administration takes steps to shut down the Guantanamo Bay facility, the heated debate over when and how to prosecute suspected terrorists continues. But there is really no need for debate. Federal criminal courts can handle terrorism cases and have for years. In fact, they are our best line of judicial defense against terrorism.

In the meantime, the Supreme Court has ruled that Guantanamo prisoners can challenge their detention in federal courts. Certain commentators have argued that we need a “legislative fix” to provide procedural guidelines—and authorize indefinite detention. In fact, the courts are the ones who can and should decide when military detention is legal, and they have.

Why create new, inherently flawed, systems to replace one that works? Our federal court system can handle these cases.

Prosecuting Terrorism Resources»

Trying Terror Suspects [INFOGRAPHIC]»

Latest News

Alleged Cole Bombing Mastermind Scheduled to Appear in Court — 13 Years Later

Back in 2000, nearly a year before al Qaeda became a declared U.S. enemy and household word, a Navy guided-missile…


6-10-2013


Hitting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with the Full Weight of Federal Courts #Boston

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pushed hard earlier this week to classify Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as an enemy combatant. But this debate…


4-24-2013


Why Federal Court is the Right Way to Try Dzhokhar Tsarnaev [INFOGRAPHIC]

Federal prosecutors charged Dzhokhar Tsarnaev today with one count of “using a weapon of mass destruction” and one count of…


4-22-2013


Federal Courts Ready for Case Against Bin Laden’s Son-in-Law

New York City – Human Rights First today praised a decision to bring Sulaiman Abu Ghaith – Osama bin Laden’s…


3-7-2013


“Reformed” Gitmo Military Commissions Don’t Live Up to the Hype

This blog was crossposted from Huffington Post.  Yesterday, shortly before the scheduled hearing at Guantanamo Bay of the alleged September 11 plotters…


8-23-2012