Judge (Jay Bybee) takes step to air his views

[sabra]

Source: Las Vegas Sun

UNLV fellow, Bush memo author seeks to meet Titus

Washington — As criticism of federal appellate court Judge Jay Bybee mounts for authorizing harsh interrogation techniques as a Bush administration lawyer, the Nevada jurist has reached out to members of the state’s congressional delegation, apparently to tell his side of the story.

The step suggests that Bybee believes maintaining the judicial branch’s customary distance from the political process is no longer in his best interest. Congress has the power to remove him from his seat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bybee has remained mostly quiet despite his rising profile as the former Justice Department official who, in 2002, signed off on a department memo that sanctioned the practice of waterboarding, which critics say is torture.

After the Obama administration released the memos written by Bybee and two other Justice Department lawyers on April 16, opponents of the interrogation tactics began calling for his impeachment by Congress.

Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/07/judge-takes-step-air-his-views/

[ixion]

1. good. His speaking his mind will only wind the coil tighter

There is simply no justifying torture.

[Winterblues]

2. Nor the complete lack of research into the topic

There have been numerous trials for "water boarding" over the years since WW II and many people have been convicted and sent to prison. It would have taken only a little research to learn that fact. It would have been almost impossible to reconcile that fact and his new "legal opinion". I would think one would give a "legal" opinion based upon existing Law and not just make something up from whole cloth.

[ixion]

3. They started with one goal: rationalize torture

so research on actual precedent, as you point out, would not have served them.

Rather, they base their entire premise on the concept of a "unitary executive" during "wartime".

This was flimsy, at best, but they went with it.

[EFerrari]

4. I don't believe that story for one minute. We've been teaching torture

at SOA for how many years?

The story that "no one could possibly have known" is standard BushCo baloney.

[MurrayDelph]

7. and (while I am not a lawyer, but HAVE stayed at a Holiday Inn Express)

I believe his coming forward in public of his own volition invalidates his future claim of Fifth-Amendment right to not testify in his trial.

(If wrong, I am sure someone will correct me).

[jtrockville]

5. "the practice of waterboarding, which critics say is torture"

Critics say it's torture? The UNITED STATES said it is torture when we PROSECUTED people for it!

[Iliyah]

6. He

broke the law, simple as that. Good lord, if it was me I would be in prison right now. Look how they treated the soldiers that were just following orders! This is complete bullshit!

[inchhigh]

8. Fair Weather Freedom Fighter

"The step suggests that Bybee believes maintaining the judicial branch’s customary distance from the political process is no longer in his best interest. "

and we all know that distance between the judicial branch and the political process is only there to protect HIS interest............

not to maintain the separation of powers according to the first three articles of the US Constitution.

[DebbieCDC]

9. I'm sure Harry Reid will leap to his defense

being a fellow Nevadian and all that shit.

[Supersedeas]

10. Reid is a huge Bybee supporter--helped shepherd is appointment through the Senate

[aquart]

11. Then Reid is the man who needs to tell him to resign.

[Supersedeas]

12. Reid is apparently taking steps to tamp-down any discussion of impeachment