US Military Commissions & International Humanitarian Law in the ‘War on Terrorism’

David Hicks, accused of being an enemy combatant in the war on terrorism and held at Guantanamo Bay, has become a household name in Australia. Reports of his case have appeared regularly in the media, often including comments from his defence lawyer Major Michael Mori of the US Marine Corps. In this lecture Major Mori outlines the proposed trial proceedings for US military commissions and discuss whether or not the rules and procedures will accord with the minimum requirements mandated under International Humanitarian Law. He also considers whether the proceedings are able to provide for the appropriate level of independent checks and balances of an established justice system. This lecture was sponsored by  the Australian Red Cross and the Centre for International and Public Law.