Harper warns the Supreme Court!

[HeresyLives]

OTTAWA — The Harper government is warning the Supreme Court of Canada against becoming the first court in the western world to declare that a government has a legal duty to protect its citizens detained abroad.


Federal lawyers, in written arguments filed in advance of a Friday hearing in the case of Omar Khadr, say that courts in England, Australia and South Africa have all rejected the principle that governments are obligated to intervene, diplomatically or otherwise, to help citizens in trouble with the law on foreign soil.


"Canadian courts should not be used to lobby the government to exercise its discretion in a particular way," says the Justice Department's legal brief.


http://www.canada.com/news/SCOC+warned+make+precedent+setting+Khadr+ruling/2211564/story.html

[CHIMO]

1. The Court

Should uphold the laws of Canada.

If the government can't do it then change the government or get rid of the court.

Reform would hate the latter if the NDP were in government. They should think a bit about the future.

[Spazito]

2. I am sure the Supreme Court will take being "warned" well, NOT....

they will rule based on the law and it seems, to this point anyway, the law has said the government is in the wrong.

[Posteritatis]

5. Yeah, Canadian supreme courts tend not to react well to interference in cases. (nt)

[HeresyLives]

3. I REALLY hope the court steps all over him.

But I doubt it.

All our institutions, the very ones set up to protect us, have failed us when we needed them most. Now.

[glarius]

4. Harper, tone deaf as usual went against the grain in not requesting Khadr's return.

Khadr's nutty father took him, as a 13 year old child to Afghanistan to fight against the Americans. What child of 13 would defy their father?
I have to stress how horrified I am that this young man (he is now 22 or 23) has had his youth taken from him and is languishing in prison due to the sins of his now disceased father. I hope I'm making it clear that my only reason for sympathy is because of his age when taken to fight by his father. He was a CHILD for God's sake.
Harper, as could be predicted, refused to follow the path of the other allies (Australia, Great Britain e.g.) who requested and received the return of their citizens, and did it his own way....saying he did not wish to interfere in the workings of the American justice system....although I'm sure the U.S.A. would have preferred to be rid of Khadr.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. Oh dear - I remember reading many headlines "Bush Warns . . . "

.
.
.

Looks like Harper wants to graduate past "Bush-lite"

(sigh)

[Bragi]

7. Why is he charged with "murder"?

I've never understood why he is charged with murder.

He was in a firefight where he was trying to kill U.S. troops, and they were trying to kill him.

Isn't this what war is all about? Why does what he allegedly did (throwing a grenade) constitute murder?