► U.S. Judge Tayna Chutkan of DC: One of the Good Gals Print E-mail

U.S. Judge Tayna Chutkan of DC: One of the Good Gals

 

Judge Tayna Chutkan received her license from the District of Columbia in 1987 after she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was subsequently approved for a seat on the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia by the U.S. Senate in 2014.

 

In a matter concerning the imprisonment of a U.S. citizen in Iraq who allegedly fought on behalf of ISIS in Syria, Judge Chutkan was outraged that the U.S. Justice Department was refusing this American’s citizen the right to counsel.

 

During a recent (November 2017) hearing, Judge Chutkan repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the Justice Department to answer basic questions about whether the American has been advised of his right to counsel and whether he has asserted that right. (Laura Jarrett, CNN)

 

Justice Department attorney Kathryn Wyer repeatedly refused to respond affirmatively or negatively to Judge Chutkan’s question, which led to her make the following statement.

  • "It's been two and a half months! I'd like to know how long you think you get to do this to a US citizen."
  • "Basically, it's just, 'trust us, we know what we're doing.'"

Judge Chutkan went on to opine that the logical conclusion of the Trump Administration’s arguments is that "the government could snatch a US citizen off the street ... for as long as it took to come to some 'final disposition.'" She then said on the record:

 

“That kind of unchecked power is frankly frightening.”

 

The judge gave the Justice Department until December 7, 2017 to report back to the court in writing with answers about whether the man has been advised of his right to counsel and if he's asserted that right.

 

Kudos to Judge Chutkan for standing up to a Justice Department under the held of Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions that believes that a U.S. citizen that is merely accused of being a ISIS sympathizer is not entitled to any Constitutional protections.

 

As we speak (ca. December 2017), Judge Chutkan continues to sit as a DC District Court judge. 

 

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