Legal Blog

Canadian Bar Association Finally Speaks Out

Monday, August 13, 2007

Personal injury lawyers are committed to protecting, preserving and advocating on behalf of their clients. It is no surprise to see the lone Plaintiff's lawyer up against a team of Defence lawyers from the insurance company.

I see the case of Khadr v. The United States as no different.

I am glad to see the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has finally spoken out.

Recently, outgoing President, Parker MacCarthy, gave a speech that received a standing ovation. Mr. MacCarthy, in an official statement to the Canadian Prime Minister requested that Canadian Khadr, who is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in U.S. custody be released from military prison and return home to Canada to face justice.

According, to the Toronto Star the comments and official statement put out by the CBA came just hours after Khadr?s American lawyer, Lt.-Cmdr. William Kuebler attended the conference urging the CBA for assistance.

Mr. MacCarthy, commented:

"When I see lawyers who take on very unpopular cases and when I see Lt. Commander Kuebler standing up to not only the highest levels of government in his country, but the military establishment, I'm moved by the courage of that man,"

Guantanamo's reputation has become widely known to the international community. Furthermore, captives, are not given fair hearings.

In an unprecedented move, recently, a military judge dismissed charges against Khadr in June, ruling, "that military commissions set up by the U.S. government to try alleged war crimes did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case."

The Pengaton's appeal is scheduled for August 24. If the Pentagon is successful, Khadr could be up for trial before fall of this year.

Bravo to Lt.-Cmdr. William Kuebler for raging against the machine and the Canadian Bar Association for lending a helping hand.

The official letter is available here:

http://www.cba.org/CBA/submissions/pdf/07-43-eng.pdf