[![Common Dreams NewsCenter][1]][2] [![][3]][4] ** **[Home][5] | [Contacting Us][6] | [About Us][7] | [Donate][8] | [Sign-Up][9] | [Archives][10]** ** **[Home][5] > [Progressive Community][11] > [NewsWire][12]** **> For Immediate Release** [![][13]Printer Friendly Version][14] [![][15]][16] [ E-Mail This Article][16] **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** NOVEMBER 3, 2006 2:45 PM **CONTACT: [Center for Constitutional Rights][17] ** Mahdis Keshavarz, Riptide Communications, 212.260.5000 ** Center for Constitutional Rights Argues to Court That Military Commissions Act is Unconstitutional ** NEW YORK - November 3 - The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) joined attorneys in filing a brief yesterday in Al Odah v. United States of America, together with Boumediene v. Bush the two cases representing men held at Guantanamo Bay that have reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The briefs were the first written arguments to challenge the Military Commissions Act (MCA) in court and argue that either the retroactive suspension of the detainees' right of habeas corpus does not apply to pending cases, or that it is flatly unconstitutional. CCR represents Australian citizen David Hicks, one of the petitioners in Al Odah, as well as hundreds of other detainees at the island prison and coordinates their representation by hundreds of pro bono attorneys. The brief states: "The Court should promptly affirm [the Lower Court's] denial of the Government's motion to dismiss these cases and, at long last, allow the district court to decide 'the merits of the petitioners' claims' as mandated by the Supreme Court" in CCR's landmark victory Rasul v. Bush. The brief goes on to argue that the Suspension Clause of the Constitution-which states that "the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless. cases of rebellion or invasion. require it"- bars Congress from suspending that right, except under very particular circumstances. "This is the first opportunity we have had to challenge the constitutionality of the MCA in court," said CCR senior attorney Barbara Olshansky, "and the Constitution is quite explicit on this point: No rebellion, no invasion, no suspension. It's that simple. We at CCR are confident that the court will find in favor of our clients, and in favor of the Constitution." The government must now file a response to the brief, which is due by November 13. The written briefs will then be followed by oral arguments, on a date to be determined by the court. Until the court issues its decision, all pending habeas corpus cases will not move forward. CCR Legal Director Bill Goodman said, "The Supreme Court has repeatedly declared that the hundreds of men detained at Guantanamo Bay have the right to their day in court. President Bush and the Congress have done their best to delay justice for these men; now the courts must insure that justice is not denied." ### [![][13]][18][Printer Friendly Version][14] [![][15]][16] [ E-Mail This Article][16] **Common Dreams [NewsCenter][5] is a non-profit news service providing breaking news and views for the Progressive Community.** The press release posted here has been provided to Common Dreams NewsWire by one of the many progressive organizations who make up [America's Progressive Community][11]. If you wish to comment on this press release or would like more information, please contact the organization directly. *all times Eastern US (GMT-5:00) **Making News?** Read our [Guidelines for Submitting News Releases][19] **Common Dreams [NewsCenter][5]** A non-profit news service providing breaking news & views for the progressive community. **[Home][5] | [Newswire][12] | [Contacting Us][6] | [About Us][7] | [Donate][8] | [Sign-Up][9] | [Archives][10]** (C) Copyrighted 1997-2007[ www.commondreams.org][5] [1]: http://www.commondreams.org/images/newfrontlogo2.gif [2]: http://www.commondreams.org [3]: http://www.commondreams.org/images/feature011707.gif [4]: http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0108-31.htm [5]: http://www.commondreams.org/ [6]: http://www.commondreams.org/contactingus.htm [7]: http://www.commondreams.org/about.htm [8]: http://www.commondreams.org/donate.htm [9]: http://www.commondreams.org/email.htm [10]: http://www.commondreams.org/archives.htm [11]: http://www.commondreams.org/community.htm [12]: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire.htm [13]: /images/icon_print.gif [14]: /cgi-bin/newsprint.cgi?file=/news2006/1103-09.htm [15]: /images/icon_email.gif [16]: http://www.referralblast.com/cs/com/co1.asp [17]: http://www.ccr-ny.org [18]: /cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/news2006/1103-09.htm [19]: http://www.commondreams.org/newspolicy.htm