Legal Commentary

Judge Denies Bail to al-Marri

By Jeralyn

A federal magistrate judge today denied bail to accused al Qaeda detainee Ali al-Marri. Al-Marri was the third person designated as an enemy combatant by the Bush Administration.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Carr turned down Ali al-Marri's bid to be released on bond, despite the defense's offer of collateral worth more than $1 million and its proposal to keep him guarded in a safe house. Carr said he would issue an order requiring al-Marri be transported to Illinois, where he's scheduled to be arraigned Monday on federal charges of providing material support to terror and conspiracy.

Cheryl Savage, wife of al-Marri's lawyer Andy Savage, wife offered to secure a bond with a commercial property worth at least $1 million, but the Judge rejected the offer.[More...]

She said there was "a very great disconnect" between the menacing portrait of al-Marri painted by the government and the considerate, reverent man she knows. Cheryl Savage, who traveled to meet his family in the Middle East, also presented a video in which the defendant's brother said their elderly mother wishes to see him before she dies.

On March 6, the Supreme Court approved al-Marri's transfer from military custody to civilian custody for a trial on criminal charges in a federal criminal court in Illinois.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 18, 2009 (boomark / email).