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ATHENS - It will be the biggest terrorism case to be tried in U.S. Federal Court---the trial of 9/11 conspirator, Khalid Sheik Mohammed. And where that case will be held has caused a contentious debate across the country, even though President Obama has made a decision.
The Obama Administration announced a few days ago that the 9/11 mastermind and his co-conspirators will be tried in New York. "On this decision, this most criticized decision, Obama and U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder got it right," Carlson tells WNEG's Amelia Hines.
Although Professor Carlson does agree with the Obama administration's decision to hold the trial in New York, he does admit that the administration failed to give reasons supporting that decision.
One deals with the death penalty and making sure it sticks. Carlson goes on to say that if opponents to the decision had their way and the trial was held by a military commission, the Supreme Court would likely overule a death penalty sentencing in an appeals process. "If it's held secretly, away from the public, and in a military setting, a month later that decision would be reversed most likely and we'd have to start all over and the trial would then be held in New York anyway."
Carlson goes on to say that even though several opponents say holding the trial in New York would bring the threat of terrorism back to the city, he says terrorism trials have been tried there before and New York can definitely handle this one, better than any alternative. "Holding it in New York not risky but putting it before a military commmission is very risky."
Professor Carlson also says this is a great opportunity for broadcast media outlets to be allowed access into the Federal Court room for this high-profile case. He says that as the rules are now, only print media are allowed inside.
