Watada's court-martial extended to Nov. 9

[babylonsister]

Watada's court-martial extended to Nov. 9

By MIKE BARBER
P-I REPORTER

A delay in the court-martial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, a Fort Lewis officer who refused deployment to Iraq last year because he believes the war is illegal and immoral, has been extended until Nov. 9.

U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle issued the postponement Friday in Tacoma, citing the need for more time to review and weigh the "considerable portions" of information presented to him by Watada's lawyers and prosecutors.

Settle originally issued a deadline of Oct. 26 when he stayed Watada's court-martial, which had been slated to begin at Fort Lewis on Oct. 9.

Settle decided he had jurisdiction to hear arguments that Watada would be subject to double jeopardy, since his first trial in February ended in a mistrial, over his objections, after testimony had been heard by a panel of officers.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336130_watada20.html

[robinlynne]

1. This sounds like good news. Is it? or is this the same judge again?

[babylonsister]

2. It's good the double jeopardy is being considered, but I don't know

why more time is needed, for if that's a good thing.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Maybe it's more time FOR considering the double jeopardy issue.

I would think that the judge, if worth his salt, would really want to take a look at this before starting a trial.

[babylonsister]

4. I think that's where there at right now; the trial was put on hold when

Watada and his lawyer brought that up.