IN RE: GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LITIGATION

Filing 1652

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Factual Return (ISN 10016) by ROBERT GATES (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Oldham, Nicholas)

IN RE: GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LITIGATION

Doc. 1652

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN RE: GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LITIGATION ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Misc. No. 08-0442 (TFH)

ZAYN HUSAYN, Petitioner, v. ROBERT GATES, Respondent.

Civil Action No. 08-1360 (RWR)

THE GOVERNMENT'S UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE FACTUAL RETURN Under this Court's Minute Order dated February 2, 2009, the Government is required to file a factual return for Petitioner Zayn Al Abidin Muhammad Husayn (a.k.a. Abu Zubaydah) (ISN 10016) by February 27, 2009. The Government respectfully moves for a four-week extension until March 27, 2009 to file the factual return. In support of this Motion, the Government states as follows: 1. Petitioner is a high-value detainee. In 2006, Petitioner was transferred to

Guantanamo to the custody of the Department of Defense from the custody of the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA had previously held Petitioner as part of a special, limited program operated by that agency.

Dockets.Justia.com

2.

The Government has been working diligently to complete Petitioner's factual

return, as well as other tasks related to the Guantanamo habeas litigation. The factual return has proven to be significantly complicated and time-consuming, including unique issues related to the evidence proposed for use in the return and the clearance of proposed evidence used in this proceeding.1 Disclosure of additional detail regarding these issues would risk inappropriate disclosure of classified information subject to clearance issues or of attorney-client privileged information or attorney work product. Should the Court require additional detail regarding the circumstances of preparing Petitioner's factual return, the Government could provide further information to the Court ex parte and in camera. 3. The Government has sought two previous extensions with respect to Petitioner's

factual return, both of which were filed with the consent of Petitioner's counsel. See Dec. 31, 2008 Status Report Re the Filing of Factual Returns for December 2008 & Req. for Exception from Sequencing (Misc. No. 08-442) (dkt. no. 1444); Jan. 30, 2009 Resp'ts' Status Report and Mot. for Extension of Time to File Factual Returns & Legal Justification (Misc. No. 08-442) (dkt. no. 1573). The Court granted both requests. See Jan. 2, 2009 Minute Order (Misc. No. 080442); Feb. 2, 2009 Minute Order. 4. In accordance with local rule 7(m), undersigned counsel conferred with

Petitioner's counsel. Petitioner does not oppose the relief requested in this motion. In addition, the parties recognize that this petition raises unique issues and believe it will be difficult to litigate the petition within the timeframe established by the case management order adopted by Judge Hogan (dkt. nos. 48 and 62). Accordingly, the parties anticipate having to seek extensions The clearance process is more fully described in Respondents' Motion for Partial and Temporary Relief from the Court's July 11, 2008 Scheduling Order (Misc. No. 08-0442) (filed -21

of the deadlines in the case management order in at least some instances. Petitioner's counsel has agreed to the Government's current and prior requests for extensions of the deadline for filing Petitioner's factual return. In the same fashion, and in recognition of the complexity of this case, the Government anticipates it will agree to Petitioner's requests for extensions. The parties hope to resolve such issues without the Court's involvement. Accordingly, the Government respectfully requests that the Court grant an extension of time until March 27, 2009 for the Government to file Petitioner's factual return. Dated: February 27, 2009 Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL F. HERTZ Acting Assistant Attorney General TERRY M. HENRY Assistant Branch Director /s/ Nicholas A. Oldham NICHOLAS A. OLDHAM (D.C. Bar No. 484113) DAVID C. BLAKE (D.C. Bar No. 976977) JULIA A. BERMAN Trial Attorneys United States Department of Justice Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch 20 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20530 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Attorneys for Respondent

Aug. 29, 2008) (dkt. no. 317). -3-