A federal judge with 12 Guantanamo cases on his desk said Thursday that lawyers for the Bush administration and the defendants should prepare their cases "as fast as possible" and come before him on July 23 and 24.
"It is time to move this forward ... as fast as possible," Judge Richard Leon told lawyers for both parties after hearing their arguments. The cases involve 18 men who are challenging their detention, some of whom have been held for more than six years.
Leon asked for written reports on July 18. His decision comes after the Supreme Court's June 12 ruling allowing Guantanamo inmates to challenge their detention in civilian courts.
The judge said the plaintiffs had until July 23 to provide him files on individual cases and until July 24 for files with multiple cases.
The cases would be handled in a manner that was "fair, consistent with the law but expeditious," Leon said.
In all, there are some 250 cases to be heard. Senior US District Judge Thomas Hogan, who is in charge of coordinating the appeals of 125 detainees still at Guantanamo, on Tuesday called on the Bush administration to treat the cases as top priorities.
Hogan is also responsible for appeals presented by US lawyers representing detainees who have already been transferred to their countries of origin. A third judge is expected to hear the other cases, but as yet no dates have been set.
