Council op-ed on recent Senate action on torture

October 10, 2005

The following is a policy position of the Chicago Council of Lawyers issued on October 10, 2005. It was sent to the media and to Senators Durbin and Obama, as well as to the Illinois Congressional delegation:

"The Chicago Council of Lawyers praises the U.S. Senate for passing a bill to prohibit the torture of persons detained by the government in the war on terrorism. The Council urges the House of Representatives to approve that bill and President Bush to sign it. The Constitution specifically gives Congress power to make rules concerning "captures on land and water." By passing the bill, instead of leaving the issue to the discretion of the President, the Senate has strengthened our Constitution's system of checks and balances. By prohibiting torture, the Senate bill will subject our military to the rule of law, a standard we rightly demand of all other nations."

Gordon G. Waldron
Chair, Civil Liberties Committee
Chicago Council of Lawyers

Carrie K. Huff
President
Chicago Council of Lawyers