Punch and Jurists

Mohamad v. Palestinian Authority, No. 11-88 (U.S. Supreme Court) (566 U.S. 449; 132 S.Ct. 1702) (April 18, 2012) (Justice Sotomayor) by Here a unanimous Supreme Court held that the Torture Victim Prevention Act (28 U.S.C. § 1350, note § 2(a)) which imposes liability on “individuals” for certain acts of torture …

Arar v. Ashcroft, No. 06-4216-cv (2nd Cir.) (585 F.3d 559) (November 2, 2009) (Judge Dennis G. Jacobs) by Here a divided en banc Court affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit under the Torture Victim Protection Act by a Canadian who was unlawfully seized by the U.S. and sent to Syria …

Padilla v. Yoo, No. C 08-00035-JSW (N.D.Cal.) (633 F.Supp.2d 1005) (June 12, 2009) (Judge Jeffrey S. White) by Here the Court refused to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit by Jose Padilla against John Yoo as the person primarily responsible for the regimen of torture and abuse to which Padilla was …

Arar v. Ashcroft, No. 06-4216-cv (2nd Cir.) (532 F.3d 157) (June 30, 2008) (Judge Jose A. Cabranes) by One day history will look back at the seven ignominious years that followed the terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001, and sadly ask why and how, in that short period …

Arar v. Ashcroft, No. Civ. No. CV-04-0249 (DGT) (VVP) (E.D.N.Y.) (414 F.Supp.2d 250) (February 16, 2006) (Judge David G. Trager) by In an intensely disturbing ruling that has generated virtually no coverage in the American press, Judge Trager dismissed this civil rights lawsuit by Maher Arar against various American officials …