Ill. judge won't toss torture suit naming Rumsfeld

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RUMSFELD_TORTURE_SUIT_ILOL-?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Mar 5, 7:43 PM EST

By MIKE ROBINSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a civil lawsuit accusing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of responsibility for the alleged torture by U.S. forces of two Americans who worked for an Iraqi contracting firm.

U.S. District Judge Wayne R. Andersen's ruling did not say the two contractors had proven any of their claims. But it did say they had alleged enough specific mistreatment to warrant hearing evidence of exactly what happened.

Andersen said his decision "represents a recognition that federal officials may not strip citizens of well settled constitutional protections against mistreatment simply because they are located in a tumultuous foreign setting."

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http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=40

Andersen, Wayne R.
Born 1945 in Chicago, IL

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on July 24, 1991, to a seat vacated by Stanley Roszkowski; Confirmed by the Senate on November 15, 1991, and received commission on November 18, 1991.

Professional Career:
Administrative assistant, Majority Leader Henry Hyde, Illinois House of Representatives, 1970-72

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[northofdenali]

2. Off to the greatest!

Kudo's to this judge who is refusing to be intimidated!

[jgraz]

3. We just need to get one of these cases to the discovery phase.

Then it's OVER for BushCo.

[Chemisse]

4. Damn that would be satisfying.

Dare I say, even orgasmic!

[Ozymanithrax]

5. This is a case to watch.

[gratuitous]

6. Encouraging, but . . .

I look for the Justice Department to shut this down and draw the cloak of National Security over the proceedings. Because if word leaked out somehow that the United States tortured people, it would damage our standing in the world. Or something.