Discussion of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld

Panelists discussed the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, which was handed down the previous day. They also responded to questions from members of the audience.

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemen native, served as the driver and aide to Osama Bin Laden until he was captured in Afghanistan. He filed a petition of habeas corpus to challenge his confinement in the United States naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Court ruled that Congress did not take away the Court’s authority to rule on the validity of military commissions. It also held that President Bush did not have the authority to set up the tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that military commissions are illegal under both military justice law and the Geneva Convention.

Mr. Katyal served as the lead attorney for Mr. Hamden in the case. close