Before the Court
The Justices Weigh in on Material-Witness Detentions
At 11:18 a.m. on March 2, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for case number 10_98, John Ashcroft v. Abdullah al-Kid. At 12:14 p.m., arguments concluded and the case was submitted for judgment. Following are excerpts from the arguments of Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, counsel of record for John Ashcroft, and Lee Gelernt, counsel of record for Abdullah al-Kid. Questions are presented from the nine Supreme Court Justices. Argument on Behalf of the John Ashcroft GENERAL KATYAL: The indictment of Mr. [Samir Omar] Al-Hussayen was in February 2003. The prosecutors learned in March that Mr. [Abdullah] al-Kidd…