CCR Responds to Supreme Court Order in Kiyemba v. Obama

CONTACT: press@ccrjustice.org

March 1, 2010, New York – Today, the Supreme Court announced it will not immediately review the appeals court decision in a case brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Kiyemba v. Obama, which opposes the barring the release of 13 innocent Uighur men, 7 of whom remain imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay into the United States.

The decision by the Supreme Court to not hear the case of the thirteen Uighur prisoners who have been detained since 2002 is a major missed opportunity to reinforce and support the role of the judiciary in constitutional decisions involving national security.  The Court had the chance to clarify and reinforce its decision in Boumediene v. Bush, holding that the writ of habeas corpus must be effective, but instead sent the case back to the lower courts.  The impact of the delay will be to prolong the indefinite imprisonment of people who have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

We welcome the Supreme Court's vacatur of the appeals court decision, which no longer stands as an obstacle to meaningful and effective habeas relief for Guantánamo detainees. But we regret that the Supreme Court's decision not to review the merits of the case at this time will mean more delay for our clients.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.