USA: Court paves way for resumption of military commissions

On 16 July a US Court of Appeals reversed an earlier ruling by a US District Court that had halted proceedings by military commissions. In the case of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, alleged former driver and bodyguard of Osama Bin Laden, the Court of Appeals ruled that trials by military commissions were lawful and that such commissions constitute competent tribunals to determine the status of Salim Hamdan under the Geneva Conventions. The US Government has announced the resumption of the proceedings before military commissions.

Appeals’ Court Ruling HRW Briefing Paper