Guantanamo Bay lawyers to halt written communication
Military attorneys representing detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will stop communicating in writing with their clients because the commander of the military detention center has authorized officials to review mail coming from detainees’ lawyers.
The chief military defense counsel for Guantanamo Bay has instructed the military attorneys in his office not to comply with the commander’s order that they sign an agreement allowing material marked attorney-client privilege to be inspected for possible “contraband” information.
Military defense attorneys said the prospect of government personnel, who answer to the commander, reading privileged communication before and during trials is impermissible under rules of professional conduct.
“We all have security clearances, but I guess they don’t trust us to abide by the rules,” said Marine Corps Col. Jeffrey Colwell, the chief military defense counsel. “You can’t defend your client without being able to communicate with him confidentially. Without that, the system fails.”
full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/guantanamo-bay-lawyers-to-halt-written-communication/2012/01/11/gIQAW23yrP_story.html
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