W. Thomas Cumbie
Encyclopedia
W. Thomas Cumbie is a senior judge in the United States Air Force
.
Cumbie is the United States Air Force's Chief Regional Military Judge, for the Atlantic Region.
Cumbie graduated from the law school of Florida State University
in 1982.
He served as a staff attorney for the Florida State Senate.
Cumbie became an officer by direct appointment, in 1985.
, the "date-rape" drug, to half a dozen men, and then raping or attempting to rape them.
for Guantanamo captive Mohammed Kamin
's military commission
.
On May 21, 2008 Cumbie ordered Kamin to be forcibly removed from his cell, to attend his first hearing.
Four guards brought Kamin into the hearing room in four point restraints, and then shackled him, hand and foot, to his chair.
Cumbie informed observers that the restraints were necessary because: "Mr. Kamin was not cooperative with the MPs and in fact attempted to spit on and bite one of the guards."
According to Carol Rosenberg
, writing in the Miami Herald, Kamin's assigned counsel Lieutenant
Rich Federico said his face was visibly injured when he was brought into the hearing room.
When Federico told Cumbie that he had only learned the day before the hearing that Kamin's medical records, which had been withheld from him, might document that Kamin was mentally ill, and asked Cumbie to order those records to be released to him, Cumbie replied: "Let me think that one over and get back to you".
When Federico raised ethical concerns over representing a client, against his will, Cumbie assured Federico that he had no ethical doubts, and ordered Federico to continue to serve as Kamin's counsel.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Cumbie is the United States Air Force's Chief Regional Military Judge, for the Atlantic Region.
Cumbie graduated from the law school of Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 1982.
He served as a staff attorney for the Florida State Senate.
Cumbie became an officer by direct appointment, in 1985.
Education
| 1979 | Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology, Florida State University, Florida |
| 1982 | Juris Doctor, Florida State University, Florida |
| 1987 | Squadron Officer School (Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1995 | Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1996 | Air Command and Staff College (Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 2001 | Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
Devery Taylor case
In 2007 Cumbie presided over the case of Captain Devery L. Taylor, an Air Force officer who was accused of administering GHBGHB
GHB may refer to:*gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, a neuroprotective and depressant drug that is illegal in a number of countries*glycated hemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin created during its exposure to high plasma levels of glucose...
, the "date-rape" drug, to half a dozen men, and then raping or attempting to rape them.
Presiding Officer, Guantanamo
Cumbie is notable for his appointment as a Presiding OfficerPresiding Officer (Guantanamo Military Commissions)
The United States of America has charged Guantanamo captives before "Military Commissions", each presided over by a Presiding Officer.The Presiding Officer were initially to serve as the first among equals on bodies were the commission members served the roles similar to both judge and jury.In the...
for Guantanamo captive Mohammed Kamin
Mohammed Kamin
Mohammed Kamin is a citizen of Afghanistan currently held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.Joint Task Force Guantanamo estimate Kamin was born in 1978....
's military commission
Guantanamo military commission
The Guantanamo military commissions are military tribunals created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 for prosecuting detainees held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps.- History :...
.
On May 21, 2008 Cumbie ordered Kamin to be forcibly removed from his cell, to attend his first hearing.
Four guards brought Kamin into the hearing room in four point restraints, and then shackled him, hand and foot, to his chair.
Cumbie informed observers that the restraints were necessary because: "Mr. Kamin was not cooperative with the MPs and in fact attempted to spit on and bite one of the guards."
According to Carol Rosenberg
Carol Rosenberg
Carol Rosenberg is a senior journalist, currently with the McClatchy News Service.Rosenberg works at the Miami Herald, which has provided extensive coverage of the operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.-Biography:...
, writing in the Miami Herald, Kamin's assigned counsel Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Rich Federico said his face was visibly injured when he was brought into the hearing room.
When Federico told Cumbie that he had only learned the day before the hearing that Kamin's medical records, which had been withheld from him, might document that Kamin was mentally ill, and asked Cumbie to order those records to be released to him, Cumbie replied: "Let me think that one over and get back to you".
When Federico raised ethical concerns over representing a client, against his will, Cumbie assured Federico that he had no ethical doubts, and ordered Federico to continue to serve as Kamin's counsel.