Pentagon pulls order relocating military judges to Guantanamo
Source: Reuters
Pentagon pulls order relocating military judges to Guantanamo
BY IAN SIMPSON
FORT MEADE, Md. Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:59pm EST
(Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department said on Friday it had rescinded an order relocating military judges to Guantanamo Bay that was intended to speed up trials of al Qaeda suspects but drew allegations of Pentagon meddling in the judicial process.
Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work's about-face on his Jan. 7 order clears a hurdle for the slow-running trials at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.
The judge presiding over the trial of five suspects in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States halted proceedings on Wednesday until the order was lifted. He cited "unlawful command influence," or Pentagon meddling in the judicial process.
Work reversed course late on Thursday in a one-paragraph order. In a statement, Work's office said he "believes it is important to preserve the independence of the Military Commission (court) in appearance, as well as in fact."
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-usa-guantanamo-idUSKBN0LV22F20150227