Hamid Al Razak v. George W. Bush: Memorandum Order (December 1, 2006)

Case 1:05-cv-01601-GK Document 41 Filed 12/01/2006 Page 1 of 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Memorandum Order

Respondents have moved for an Order to Show Cause Why This Case Should Not Be Dismissed for Lack of Proper “Next Friend” Standing or, in the Alternative, to Stay Proceedings Pending Related Appeals and For Continued Coordination. Upon consideration of the Motion, Petitioners’ Opposition, Respondents’ Reply, and the applicable case law, the Court concludes for the following reasons that the Motion for an Order to Show Cause should be denied and that the Motion to Stay the Proceedings Until Conclusion of the Related Appeals should be granted.

In light of these facts, there can be little doubt in the Court’s mind that Mr. Al Razak is not able to challenge the legality of his detention.

In response, theGovernment argues vigorouslythat ithas madeanumber of different efforts to make counsel available, including through the American Bar Association and others, to those detainees who do wish to file writs of habeas corpus, and that more than 200 of the detainees at Guantanamo have in fact filed such writs in their own names. The fact that some of the unfortunate petitioners who have been detained for many years in the terrible conditions at Guantanamo Bay have been knowledgeable enough to file their own petitions certainlydoes not demonstrate that Mr. Al Razak himself had either the sophistication, or confidence in the American justice system which has so delayed ruling on his status without even filing criminal charges against him, or the physical or mental stability, to do so on his own.

Finally, the Government has offered no evidence to contradict Petitioner’s statements that he understands the meaning of the term “next friend,” and that he knows that Mr. Al Razak wants a lawyer to assert his legal rights. In numerous cases, the Court has felt compelled, for purposes of judicial economy and efficiency, to grant Respondents’ Motions to stay proceedings of the Guantanamo Bay cases until completion of related appeals. The longer those appellate proceedings drag on, the more problematic it becomes as to whether a stayserves the interest of justice. It is often said that “justice delayed is justice denied.” Nothing could be closer to the truth with reference to the Guantanamo Bay cases.
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WHEREFORE, it is this 1st day of December, 2006, hereby ORDERED that Respondents’ Motion for an Order to Show Cause is denied; and it is further

ORDERED that Respondents’ Motion to Stay, [#3], is granted pending resolution of all appeals in In re Guantanamo Bay Detainee Cases, 355 F. Supp. 2d 443 (D.D.C. 2005) and Khalid v. Bush, 355 F. Supp. 2d 311 (D.D.C. 2005). This stay shall not prevent the parties from filing any motion for emergency relief; and it is further

ORDERED that Petitioner’s counsel are to be given access to Petitioner as soon as they obtain securityclearances in accordance with this Court’s September 19, 2006 Order and the Orders referenced therein

/s/

Gladys Kessler

United States District Judge

Copies via ECF to all counsel of record