Lt. Watada's Appeals to Halt Oct. 9th Retrial

Below is the update from Courage to Resist on First Lieutenant Ehren Watada's case. You can find several news articles stating that appeals have been filed, but ONLY this link gives you copies of those appeals in PDF format. They are WELL worth reading and will allow you to see how this case has been manipulated by the government. If you believe in prayer, then PLEASE do so for Ehren, if not prayer, positive thoughts sent his way AND if you have not signed the petition in support of him, please do so here.

Lt. Watada asks federal court to halt Oct. 9 retrial

By Courage to Resist. October 4, 2007

Lt. Ehren Watada's lawyers made an emergency appeal to federal civilian courts (the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma) for a halt to the court-martial retrial currently scheduled for next Tuesday, October 9 based on Ehren’s protection against Double Jeopardy as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Both the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus (PDF) and the Emergency Motion for a Stay of Trial Proceedings (PDF) filed yesterday clearly outline why Double Jeopardy applies to the case of Lt. Watada. Also: Army announces Oct. 9 retrial (PDF) and Army warns trial attendees against political speech or dress (PDF)

"This is a remarkably clear case of an egregious violation of the double-jeopardy clause," Watada's lawyers, James Lobsenz and Kenneth Kagan, wrote in the emergency motion to block the court-martial.

Earlier this week, the Army announced their intention of moving forward with the October 9 court martial that nearly all observers assumed would be postponed until a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. However that military appeals court seems content to sit back and watch.

Because Monday, October 8th is a federal holiday and the court martial is scheduled for Tuesday, October 9th, an emergency hearing has been requested for Friday, October 5th. In a clear move to limit media coverage, Fort Lewis Public Affairs announced that media wanting to cover the trial had less than 48 hours to register with their office.

Supporters of Lt. Watada are again planing on attending any possible retrial. Those interested in attending should arrive at the Gate 120 Visitor's Center before 7:30am Tuesday morning. Others will hold vigil throughout the day in front of Gate 119. Meanwhile, community organizers across the country are preparing to take action highlighting the case of Lt. Watada and all military war resisters over the next week.

Ehren's term of military service ordinarily would have expired on December 4, 2006; however, he has not been discharged because of the pending court-martial charges against him for speaking out against an illegal war and refusing to obey an order to deploy and lead his soldiers in Iraq.

Information for this update provided by David Mitchell and Gerry Condon