Judge agrees to delay legal rights for Bagram detainees until government can appeal

Judge holds Bagram detainee cases

WASHINGTON — A federal judge has put a hold on his order allowing detainees at a U.S. air base in Afghanistan access to courts until the government can appeal.

U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled two months ago that some foreign detainees at Bagram Airfield could use civilian courts in the United States to challenge their detention.

Bates’ ruling extends to the war zone rights already given to terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The ruling drew an immediate rebuke from congressional Republicans.

Bates said Monday he believes his decision was correct, but he recognized that the issue was novel and others might differ. So he agreed to a government request to delay his order long enough for the Obama administration to appeal.