U.S. judge OKs first Guantanamo detainee trial
7/17/2008WASHINGTON A federal judge says the first Guantanamo Bay war crimes trial can begin Monday.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson rejected an effort by Osama bin Laden s former driver, Salim Hamdan, to postpone his trial. Hamdan argued he would suffer irreparable harm if his was tried before he could challenge the legality of the process.
Robertson s ruling Thursday is a victory for the Bush administration, which suffered a setback last month when the Supreme Court ruled that detainees can challenge their detention in federal court. Hamdan s attorneys hoped to use that ruling to delay his trial.
Robertson s decision came shortly after a military judge at Guantanamo Bay also denied Hamdan s request for a postponement.