George Brent Mickum IV
Encyclopedia
George Brent Mickum IV is an American
lawyer with the Washington DC law firm Hollingsworth LLP.
Mickum represented three British residents, Bisher Al Rawi, Jamil El Banna, and Martin Mubanga
in El Banna v. Bush
.
The three were captured in Africa, held first in CIA custody, then transported to the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
.
Before entering private practice Mickum worked as a trial attorney for the Federal Trade Commission
.
He also worked as a special assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice
and the senior investigative counsel for the Senate Special Committee on Investigations.
When the United States Supreme Court forced the Department of Defense
to provide an opportunity for captives to learn why they were being held, they designed administrative procedures called "Combatant Status Review Tribunal
s".
The Guardian
quoted Mickum's advice to his clients that they decline to participate:
On January 12, 2005, The Guardian published an article by Mickum, where he described one of his clients, Bisher Al Rawi, being punished for trying to forward the names of other Guantanamo captives who wanted habeas corpus
petitions submitted on their behalf.
The lawyers who were prepared to submit habeas corpus petitions could only do so when they were approached by a captive's "next friend
".
In February 2008 Mickum was one of the first two lawyers to see Abu Zubaydah
, one of the three captives the CIA acknowledges waterboarding
, when he was in one of their black sites."
All the attorneyd who are allowed to meet with the Guantanamo captives had to agree not to disclose "secret" information they learn from their clients.
However the CIA argued this agreement wasn't sufficient for those attorneys who wanted to meet with their former captives, because their clients could reveal information that was "top secret
". Mickum said: "The hypocrisy that we cannot discuss Zubaydah's treatment, but the government can admit to waterboarding him and claim that it is legal is rather astounding."
On March 30, 2009 The Guardian
published an article by Mickum, entitled The truth about Abu Zubaydah: The Bush administration's false claim that my client was a top al-Qaida official has led to his imprisonment and torture.
Mickum's text was submitted to the CIA, who required multiple redactions. Mickum wrote:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer with the Washington DC law firm Hollingsworth LLP.
Mickum represented three British residents, Bisher Al Rawi, Jamil El Banna, and Martin Mubanga
Martin Mubanga
Martin Mubanga is a joint citizen of both the United Kingdom and Zambia. He was held, without charge, and interrogated at the American prison at Guantanamo Bay for 33 months....
in El Banna v. Bush
El Banna v. Bush
El Banna v. Bushis a writ of habeas corpus that was submitted on behalf of Guantanamo captive Jamil al-Banna, Bisher Al Rawi and Martin Mubanga.They were also United Kingdom citizens, or residents....
.
The three were captured in Africa, held first in CIA custody, then transported to the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Before entering private practice Mickum worked as a trial attorney for the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
.
He also worked as a special assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
and the senior investigative counsel for the Senate Special Committee on Investigations.
When the United States Supreme Court forced the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
to provide an opportunity for captives to learn why they were being held, they designed administrative procedures called "Combatant Status Review Tribunal
Combatant Status Review Tribunal
The Combatant Status Review Tribunals were a set of tribunals for confirming whether detainees held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp had been correctly designated as "enemy combatants". The CSRTs were established July 7, 2004 by order of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense...
s".
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
quoted Mickum's advice to his clients that they decline to participate:
|
On January 12, 2005, The Guardian published an article by Mickum, where he described one of his clients, Bisher Al Rawi, being punished for trying to forward the names of other Guantanamo captives who wanted habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
petitions submitted on their behalf.
The lawyers who were prepared to submit habeas corpus petitions could only do so when they were approached by a captive's "next friend
Next friend
In common law, next friend is a phrase used to refer to a person who represents another person who is under disability or otherwise unable to maintain a suit on their own behalf and who does not have a legal guardian....
".
In February 2008 Mickum was one of the first two lawyers to see Abu Zubaydah
Abu Zubaydah
Abu Zubaydah is a Saudi Arabian citizen, sentenced to death in Jordan and currently held in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Not neutral: Arrested in Pakistan in March 2002, he has been in US custody for more than eight years, four-and-a-half of them spent incommunicado in solitary confinement...
, one of the three captives the CIA acknowledges waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
, when he was in one of their black sites."
All the attorneyd who are allowed to meet with the Guantanamo captives had to agree not to disclose "secret" information they learn from their clients.
However the CIA argued this agreement wasn't sufficient for those attorneys who wanted to meet with their former captives, because their clients could reveal information that was "top secret
Top Secret
Top Secret generally refers to the highest acknowledged level of classified information.Top Secret may also refer to:- Film and television :* Top Secret , a British comedy directed by Mario Zampi...
". Mickum said: "The hypocrisy that we cannot discuss Zubaydah's treatment, but the government can admit to waterboarding him and claim that it is legal is rather astounding."
On March 30, 2009 The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
published an article by Mickum, entitled The truth about Abu Zubaydah: The Bush administration's false claim that my client was a top al-Qaida official has led to his imprisonment and torture.
Mickum's text was submitted to the CIA, who required multiple redactions. Mickum wrote: