1. al-Maqaleh v. Gates (D.D.C. Feb. 15, 2011) (permitting filing of amended habeas petition, pending motion to dismiss)
As many readers will recall, the al-Maqaleh litigation seeks to establish that at least some individuals held in U.S. military custody in Afghanistan should be able to seek habeas relief. The initial effort failed in the face of a contrary decision by the D.C. Circuit, but that opinion had held open the possibility that the issue could be revisited in the event of changing circumstances. The petitioners moved to amend their petition to assert such circumstances, and in a short opinion yesterday Judge Bates allowed the amendment on the ground that it would be best to rule on the underlying merits issue in the context of a government motion to dismiss rather than in connection with the motion to amend.
For a concise discussion of the issues and links to lots of the relevant documents, see the post by Larkin Reynolds here.
2. Student summer internship opportunity – Lawyers Alliance for World Security/World Security Institute
See here, or the text below:
Sponsored by World Security Institute & Lawyers Alliance for World Security
General Information: The Lawyers Alliance for World Security (LAWS) and the World Security Institute (WSI) are pleased to announce a joint summer intern program in Washington, D.C. for law students with a strong interest in national security, nuclear arms control, nonproliferation and foreign affairs. The intern selected will be located at the World Security Institute office at 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 615, Washington, D.C., 20036, which is close to Dupont Circle and the Metro Red Line.
LAWS is a non-profit organization of lawyers dedicated to supporting the non-proliferation regime; reduced reliance on nuclear weapons; the rule of law, in the national security area, and strengthening U.S. security through international cooperation and regional and multilateral arms control and national security treaties. LAWS has often joint-ventured with the Center for Defense Information (CDI), a division of the World Security Institute, in support of arms control treaties; opposing the militarization of space, and in calling attention to the several environmental risks connected with the missile defense program. Most recently, LAWS’ board members have authored short legal analyses of several national security hot topics, including the Article X limits on withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the new U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement.
Skills Required: Superior organizational skills and ability to handle varied tasks; Strong writing and editing skills
Education requirements: Current law school student with a strong interest in national security policy and foreign affairs
Job Description: The LAWS/WSI summer intern will work closely with the CDI staff and will be given considerable responsibility. He or she will have the flexibility to come up with and follow through on their own research projects which could be published on the LAWS/CDI website and/or The Defense Monitor, CDI’s regular print publication.
Research topics will vary each semester. Previous subject areas have included:
• Legal issues surrounding the use of conventional and nuclear weapons against Iran and possibly Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT;
• Legal questions pertaining to property rights in space, mining on planets, private space stations, etc.; and
• Space debris regulations, with a focus on anti-satellite weaponization and/or debris liability, perhaps looking at the Chinese demolition of their own satellite and resulting hazards interfering with the peaceful use of space.
• The impact of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and the related U.N. Security Council resolutions dealing with nonproliferation goals such as stemming North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
• Research and analyze verification systems set out in earlier arms control treaties, in an effort to determine which systems or elements of systems contain viable concepts or approaches that could be included in the development of appropriate treaty language as an element of a nuclear disarmament treaty contemplated in the Global Zero action plan.
Eligibility: The LAWS/WSI summer internship is open to current law school students with a strong interest in national security policy and foreign affairs. Strong writing capabilities, prior experience in the LAWS/WSI issue areas through related course work or work experience, and solid computer skills are appreciated.
More / LessHow to apply
How to Apply: We will be accepting applications until March 15 of each year; however, we encourage applicants to send their resumes as quickly as possible to ensure our consideration.
The projected start date for this position is June 1 running through August 31.
A complete application includes: e-mail address; resume; cover letter; writing sample (3-5 pages in length is sufficient); transcripts of your law school courses and grades; two letters of recommendation; your country of citizenship and, if not the United States, the availability of appropriate work authorization.
Electronic material: Any materials available electronically ideally may be sent by e-mail as long as they bear the name of the candidate. The subject line should contain the following: "Summer 2011 LAWS/WSI Internship.”
Please send all materials to: Professor Stephen Dycus, Vermont Law School, Chelsea Street, South Royalton, VT 05068, Or, by e-mail: sdycus@vermontlaw.edu.
More Information: For more information on the World Security Institute and the Lawyers Alliance for World Security, please visit our Web sites: www.worldsecurityinstitute.org, or
www.cdi.org/LAWS/.