| A federal judge ordered the Bush administration Monday to either charge terrorism suspect Jose Padilla with a crime or release him after more than 2 1/2 years in custody.
The government contends Padilla was planning an atack with a “dirty bomb” radiological device. “The court finds that the president has no power, neither express nor implied, neither constitutional nor statutory, to hold petitioner as an enemy combatant,” Floyd wrote in a 23-page opinion that was a stern rebuke to the government. Floyd, appointed by Bush in 2003, gave the administration 45 days to take action. |
Remember that one of the things that drove Americans to revolt against British rule was the King's unchecked authority - including the ability to detain citizens at will. Our Founding Fathers disgust with unchecked executive authority in criminal and civil prosecutions was so profound that half of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, Amendments IV thru VIII, addressed this issue.
For those of you rusty on your Amendments to the U.S. Constitution:
| Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V Amendment VI Amendment VII Amendment VIII |
Thankfully, in addition to these amendments, Madison built a series of checks and balances into our constitutional system. He knew that no system would be perfect, and that at times men who could not be trusted would hold office. "Faction against faction" was to be a guarantee against tyranny.
Today, the system that Madison built once again worked to perfection. And once again, our nation's debt to Madison and his ideas grows.
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