Peter Masciola Explained

Colonel Peter Masciola served as the Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions in 2008 and 2009.[1] He was appointed in the fall of 2008.[2] Masciola was President of the Judge Advocate Association in 2001–2002.[3]

On January 16, 2009, Masciola wrote:[4]

Masciola stirred controversy in April 2009 when he fired William Kuebler, Guantanamo captive Omar Khadr's senior military counsel.[5] [6] [7] Kuebler, in turn, suggested Masciola of a conflict of interest.

The two men have a difference of opinion as to what should happen to Khadr. Kuebler thinks Khadr should be repatriated to Canada, and undergo a supervised re-entry into civilian life. Masciola thinks Khadr's case should be transferred to the US civilian justice system.

Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen, reported that Kuebler had, coincidentally, been called into Masciola's office when Masciola received the phone call that informed him that Colonel Patrick Parrish had overruled him.[1] Citing an unnamed source the Citizen reported that Masciola was "not at all pleased" to learn Parrish wanted to overrule him. Masciola did not accept Parrish's ruling, and continued to decline to allow Keubler to meet with Khadr, to access the case file. According to the unnamed source:

Masciola asserted that the Office of Military Commissions rules did not oblige the provision of a particular lawyer.[2] Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen, reported that the Canadian government believed Khadr was entitled to representation by "counsel of his choice", and speculated that Masciola's actions may trigger diplomatic repercussions.

Parrish scheduled a hearing for June 1, 2009, to consider whether Keubler should remain as Khadr's counsel.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: U.S. military judge reinstates fired Khadr lawyer . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411063849/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/military+judge+reinstates+fired+Khadr+lawyer/1474453/story.html . 2009-04-08 . . 2009-04-11 . Steven Edwards . dead.
  2. News: Pentagon colonel stands by decision to fire Khadr's lawyer . https://web.archive.org/web/20090511122548/http://www.canada.com/news/Pentagon+colonel+stands+decision+fire+Khadr+lawyer/1479083/story.html . 2009-04-08 . . 2009-05-11 . Steven Edwards . dead.
  3. News: Past Presidents. Judge Advocates Association. 2011-03-09.
  4. News: Dizzy yet? . . 2009-04-09 . Aaron Wherry .
  5. News: Navy Lawyer Who Faulted Guantánamo Is Reassigned . . 2009-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140923142503/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/us/politics/05gitmo.html?ref=global-home . 2014-09-23 . The chief defense counsel at Guantánamo, Col. Peter Masciola of the Air Force, concluded that Commander Kuebler's removal was necessary to pursue "a client-centered representation," according to a statement from his office. Colonel Masciola did not immediately respond to a request for further details. . dead.
  6. News: Six years on, Omar Khadr's fate more uncertain than ever . . 2009-04-08 . Michelle Shephard . Michelle Shephard . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021004955/http://www.thestar.com/specialsections/article/615705 . 2012-10-21 . The fight between Kuebler and the rest of the legal team is why Guantanamo's Chief Defence lawyer, Air Force Col. Peter Masciola, fired him, on the grounds that he had poor management and that Khadr needed a more "client-centered representation." Masciola said military law gave him the power to do so - a military judge says it does not. . dead.
  7. News: From child soldier to controversial inmate . . 2010-11-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181934/http://www.globalnews.ca/story.html?id=1527151 . 2011-07-06 . Khadr's U.S. military defence lawyer Lieutenant-Commander William Kuebler is fired. Kuebler had lodged a complaint about his superior in connection with the case, believing that Pentagon chief defence lawyer Colonel Peter Masciola supported the prosecution of Khadr while overseeing his defence. . dead.
  8. News: US military plans tribunal session at Guantanamo . 2009-05-26 . . https://archive.today/20240524093817/https://www.webcitation.org/5h8qCJsxt?url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iQsQOHKSsEpzk6Ea0jz7fB_eT8IAD98E51NG2 . 2024-05-24 . dead.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Peter Masciola".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.