the United States Supreme Court, showing nothing upstairs
More on today's ruling from the Supreme Court.
The news stories which first appeared this morning have already been rewritten a number of times (the AP story I linked to in my own post no longer exists; its replacement bears a report which is almost a reversal of the original), reflecting the confusion which surrounds the justices' "decision."
I think most of us don't have to be reminded that it was this same Supreme judiciary body which three and a half years ago installed the Administration which we see working so asiduously to re-create the remainder of the judiciary in its own image.* I don't think we can expect "judicial review" to safeguard any of us from assaults waged in the name of the War on Terror.
Today's decision says Bush has the right, under the Patriot Act, to arrest and hold both citizens and non-citizens indefinitely and without charges, although both citizens and non-citizens have the right to go to court to argue, apparently one at a time, that in their particular cases they are being held illegally. No one will be let out today - or tomorrow - and in fact the separate cases could be argued for years while the plaintiffs languish in camps, thanks to these (un)worthy judges.
However you look at what the Court did today, it has to be regarded as making bad law.
* One reminder which more of us actually do need: John Kerry, our great blue hope, voted for the war, voted for staying the course in Iraq, and voted for the Patriot Act.
[image from supremecourtus]