Bill of Rights Defense Campaign

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Working with communities to uphold the Bill of Rights
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Anti-Terror Cases with Civil Liberties Implications

Combatant Status Review Tribunals

For more information on the CSRTs see Human Rights First
An extensive list of Amici Curiae Briefs filed on behalf of the detainees
Guantanamo Timeline (Updated May 2007)
Detainees held at Guantanamo: list released May 15, 2006

News articles

Domestic Surveillance

Guantánamo Bay Detention Center

  • BOUMEDIENE, et al. v. BUSH, et al. and AL ODAH v. UNITED STATES, et al.
    Supreme Court ruling (on two consolidated cases) in which the Court held that detainees at Guantánamo Bay have the habeas corpus rights and may challenge their detentions in federal courts. The ruling overturned the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
  • HAMDAN v. RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE et al.
    Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the President's military commissions were not expressly authorized by any Congressional act. Even if they were, the Court held that the commissions were in conflict with both the UCMJ and the Geneva Conventions. The Court ruled the military commissions unconstitutional and set down basic requirements for future commissions.
  • RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE v. PADILLA et al.
    Supreme Court case in which Padilla, a US citizen, sought Habeas relief as a result of his detainment as an enemy combatant. Court did not decide on the issue, but remanded the case for dismissal without prejudice due to a filing error.
  • HAMDI et al. v. RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, et al.
    Supreme Court case holding that US citizens designated as enemy combatants have a right to challenge their detainment under the Due Process Clause.
  • RASUL et al. v. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, et al.
    Supreme Court decision that Guantanamo is not outside of US territory, therefore petitioners, both US citizens and non- US citizens have habeas righ

USA PATRIOT Act

  • Material Support: January 2004, see Washington Times article
  • National Security Letters: September 2004, see Washington Post article
  • DOE v. GONZALEZ
    Federal court decision that declared National Security Letters, NSLs, unconstitutional and in specific violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and the Fourth amendment protection from unreasonable searches.

Other Post-9/11 Cases