Lawyers Eye Military Tribunal Rules

The Bush administration should change the rules for any future military tribunals so terrorism suspects can get the best help possible from independent civilian defense lawyers, a panel of the American Bar Association says.

The ABA, the nation's largest lawyers' organization, could decide Tuesday to recommend that the Pentagon drop restrictions on outside lawyers that many defense attorneys said would make it unethical for them to participate alongside military defense lawyers in a tribunal trial.

Alfred P. Carlton Jr., who leaves his post as ABA president on Tuesday, said he, for one, could not sign a list of promises the Pentagon says it will require of any lawyer who wants to participate.

One point of contention is the government's ability to listen to conversations between suspects and their lawyers. The ABA also may object to a requirement that tribunal lawyers get government permission before talking about the case outside the courtroom, and other rules.


Tribunals