Michael Mori
Encyclopedia
Michael Dante Mori is a lieutenant colonel
in the United States Marine Corps
. Mori was the military lawyer for Australian Guantanamo Bay
detainee David Hicks
.http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=267190
in December 1983. He served as a repair and calibration technician of electronic test equipment as an enlisted Marine. After graduating in 1991 from Norwich University
, a military college
located in Northfield, Vermont
, he became an officer in the Marine Corps. In 1994 he graduated from the Western New England College School of Law
in Springfield, Massachusetts
, before being admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts
. He is married and has twin boys. A sister lives in Australia. In June 2009, he was promoted to a lieutenant colonel and made a senior military judge.
to represent David Hicks in November 2003. He handled Hicks' case through to its conclusion. He was featured on numerous occasions in the Australian media in relation to developments in Hicks' case.
Mori was one of the 2005 recipients of the American Civil Liberties Union
's Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award, which was presented "to the five military defense lawyers who represented the first round of defendants at the Guantánamo Bay tribunals and challenged the entire military commission system."
In August 2006, Mori engaged in a lecture tour in Australia on behalf of David Hicks, where he charged the Bush Administration with creating an illegal military tribunal system that violated Hicks' rights. Major Mori also attended a rally in Adelaide in support of Hicks and led a march to the office of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
On November 10, 2006, Mori attended the signing of the Fremantle Declaration
by the attorneys-general of the states and territories of Australia. The federal attorney general, Philip Ruddock
, refused to attend. The declaration urges judicial fairness be applied in Hicks' case to protect the legal rights of Australians at home and abroad. Mori said "It's disheartening that federal ministers won't fight for an Australian citizen to have the same rights as an American."
Following Hicks' departure from Guantanamo Bay to complete his sentence in Yatala Prison, South Australia
- on or about May 20, 2007 - Mori was re-assigned as a staff
judge advocate, or legal adviser, to the commanders of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
in San Diego. He has twice been passed over for promotion since taking on the Hicks case.
Mori was presented, in June 2007, with an honorary membership of the Australian Bar Association for his defence of David Hicks. In October 2007, he was awarded a civil justice award from the Australian Lawyers Alliance as "recognition by the legal profession of unsung heroes who, despite personal risk or sacrifice, have fought to preserve individual rights, human dignity or safety".
In September 2010, Mori took the navy to court, alleging that his 2009 promotion was delayed due to bias by the selection board.
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Mori was the military lawyer for Australian Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
detainee David Hicks
David Hicks
David Matthew Hicks is an Australian who was convicted by the United States of America Guantanamo Military Commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, on charges of providing material support for terrorism...
.http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=267190
History
Mori spent four years in the enlisted ranks, reporting for basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris IslandMarine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
in December 1983. He served as a repair and calibration technician of electronic test equipment as an enlisted Marine. After graduating in 1991 from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
, a military college
Senior Military College
In the United States, a Senior Military College is one of six colleges that offer military Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs and are specifically recognized under 10 USC 2111a...
located in Northfield, Vermont
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
, he became an officer in the Marine Corps. In 1994 he graduated from the Western New England College School of Law
Western New England College School of Law
Western New England University School of Law is a private, American Bar Association-accredited law school in Western Massachusetts, the only ABA-accredited law school in Massachusetts outside the greater Boston area....
in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, before being admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He is married and has twin boys. A sister lives in Australia. In June 2009, he was promoted to a lieutenant colonel and made a senior military judge.
Hicks case
Mori was appointed by the United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
to represent David Hicks in November 2003. He handled Hicks' case through to its conclusion. He was featured on numerous occasions in the Australian media in relation to developments in Hicks' case.
Mori was one of the 2005 recipients of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
's Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award, which was presented "to the five military defense lawyers who represented the first round of defendants at the Guantánamo Bay tribunals and challenged the entire military commission system."
In August 2006, Mori engaged in a lecture tour in Australia on behalf of David Hicks, where he charged the Bush Administration with creating an illegal military tribunal system that violated Hicks' rights. Major Mori also attended a rally in Adelaide in support of Hicks and led a march to the office of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
On November 10, 2006, Mori attended the signing of the Fremantle Declaration
Fremantle Declaration
The Fremantle Declaration was a restatement and affirmation of legal and human rights principles in Australia.It was signed in Fremantle, Western Australia by all of the Attorneys-General of all the Australian States and territories on November 10, 2006...
by the attorneys-general of the states and territories of Australia. The federal attorney general, Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock
Philip Maxwell Ruddock is an Australian politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Berowra, New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia...
, refused to attend. The declaration urges judicial fairness be applied in Hicks' case to protect the legal rights of Australians at home and abroad. Mori said "It's disheartening that federal ministers won't fight for an Australian citizen to have the same rights as an American."
Following Hicks' departure from Guantanamo Bay to complete his sentence in Yatala Prison, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
- on or about May 20, 2007 - Mori was re-assigned as a staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
judge advocate, or legal adviser, to the commanders of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
in San Diego. He has twice been passed over for promotion since taking on the Hicks case.
Mori was presented, in June 2007, with an honorary membership of the Australian Bar Association for his defence of David Hicks. In October 2007, he was awarded a civil justice award from the Australian Lawyers Alliance as "recognition by the legal profession of unsung heroes who, despite personal risk or sacrifice, have fought to preserve individual rights, human dignity or safety".
In September 2010, Mori took the navy to court, alleging that his 2009 promotion was delayed due to bias by the selection board.
External links
- Bulletin article May 26, 2007
- Biography from the Australian National University
- Marine Defends Guantánamo Detainee, and Surprises Australians, New York Times
- US major attacks Guantánamo justice, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- ACLU biography
- Major Michael Mori, ninemsnNineMSNninemsn is an Australian 50/50 joint venture between Microsoft and Nine Entertainment Co.. It effectively acts as the website for both the Nine Network and MSN, and is one of Australia's most popular websites...
, February 15, 2004 - US Federal Court judge rules Guantanamo Military Commissions unconstitutional, Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, February 1, ,2005 - Interview: Major Michael Mori, Enough RopeEnough RopeEnough Rope with Andrew Denton is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC Television in Australia...
with Andrew DentonAndrew DentonAndrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, August 14, 2006. - Australia: Thousands hear US military lawyer for David Hicks, World Socialist Web Site, September 5, 2006.