Skip to content

Reaction to the Court Ruling

"We will abide by the court's decision. It was a deeply divided court and I strongly agree with those who dissented."   - President Bush

    Inquirer
    Published 

"We will abide by the court's decision. It was a deeply divided court and I strongly agree with those who dissented."

- President Bush

"This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus."

- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama

"These are unlawful combatants, they are not American citizens, and I think we should pay attention to Justice Roberts' [dissenting] opinion in this decision."

- Republican presidential candidate John McCain

"Today's opinion is an important and much-needed check by a coequal branch of government on an administration which has shown utter contempt for the rule of law."

- Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D., Del.)

"A tremendously dangerous and irresponsible ruling. ... The court has conferred upon civilian judges the right to make military decisions. These judges have virtually no training in military matters yet civilian judges, in some of the most liberal district courts in the country, will have

an opportunity to determine who is a threat to the

United States."

- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who helped to craft

the 2006 Military Commissions Act

"It is a powerful repudiation of the Bush administration's efforts to undermine the Constitution and create the legal black hole that is Guantánamo."

- David Cynamon, lead counsel for detainee Fawzi al-Odah

    Inquirer