Hicks lawyer gets liberty award

July 25, 2005

THE American military lawyer of Australian terror suspect David Hicks has been awarded a humanitarian gong by a US civil liberties group.

Major Michael Mori, appointed by the US to represent Hicks at a US military commission hearing, has been awarded a Medal of Liberty by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Hicks, of Adelaide, has been detained by the US at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since January 2002, following his capture among Taliban forces in Afghanistan a month earlier.

Major Mori's award was hailed by Hicks' Adelaide-based civilian lawyer David McLeod.

"Major Mori's description of the proposed military commission as a kangaroo court has been vindicated by a distinguished group of his fellow countrymen," Mr McLeod said today.

American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony Romero said Major Mori, and four other military lawyers given the award, deserved recognition for defending terror suspects.

"These five uniformed officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty in challenging the gross denial of legal rights to Guantanamo detainees," Mr Romero said.

"As men and women in uniform, they have boldly demonstrated that national security and the protection of civil liberties need not be at odds."

A date has yet to be set for the military commission hearing of Hicks, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, conspiracy and aiding the enemy.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16042076%255E1702,00.html