QASSIM et al v. BUSH et al

Filing 60

QASSIM et al v. BUSH et al

Doc. 60

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

ABU BAKKER QASSIM, et al., Petitioners, v. GEORGE W. BUSH, et al., Respondents.

Civil Action No. 05-CV-0497 (JR)

RESPONDENTS' OBJECTION TO ORDER SETTING CONFERENCE REGARDING PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR AN ORDER AMENDING COUNSEL ACCESS PROCEDURES Respondents hereby object to the Court's January 27, 2006 Minute Order setting a mediation conference pertaining to petitioners' motion to amend the counsel access procedures in this case (dkt. no. 42). The petition for writ of habeas corpus in this case was denied by the Court by final order on December 22, 2005 (dkt. no. 58), and petitioners have appealed to the D.C. Circuit, see dkt. no. 59. The district court, therefore, lacks jurisdiction to grant relief to petitioners based on petitioners' motion. See Princz v. Federal Republic of Germany, 998 F.2d 1, 1 (D.C. Cir. 1993); see also United States ex rel. Mitcham v. Washington, No. 93 C 7360, 1994 WL 603851 at *1 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 2, 1994) (final judgment in habeas case rendered pending motions moot). The Court also lacks jurisdiction to proceed in light of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-148, tit. X, 119 Stat. 2680, which, among other things, amends 28 U.S.C. § 2241 to remove court jurisdiction to hear or consider applications for writs of habeas corpus

Dockets.Justia.com

and other actions brought in this Court by or on behalf of aliens detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Accordingly, respondents object to the Court's Minute order setting a mediation conference pertaining to petitioners' motion. Dated: January 30, 2006 Respectfully submitted, PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General KENNETH L. WAINSTEIN United States Attorney DOUGLAS N. LETTER Terrorism Litigation Counsel /s/ Terry M. Henry JOSEPH H. HUNT (D.C. Bar No. 431134) VINCENT M. GARVEY (D.C. Bar No. 127191) TERRY M. HENRY JAMES J. SCHWARTZ PREEYA M. NORONHA ROBERT J. KATERBERG NICHOLAS J. PATTERSON ANDREW I. WARDEN EDWARD H. WHITE MARC A. PEREZ Attorneys United States Department of Justice Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch 20 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Room 7212 Washington, DC 20530 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Respondents

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