Politics: Let's Hear It For the Sixth Amendment

It's early yet, but an appeals court ruled today that crazy accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui could question Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who the U.S believes is the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. See, bin al-Shibh could probably tell the court, like he told his U.S. interrogators, that Moussaoui had nothing to do with 9/11.

Sept. 11 Suspect May Question Witness

By DAVID PACE
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court Thursday dismissed the government's appeal of a lower court order granting accused Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarious Moussaoui the right to question a senior al-Qaida leader in U.S. custody.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., threw out the appeal on a technicality. It ruled that the Justice Department was premature in appealing the trial judge's order allowing Moussaoui to question Sept. 11 organizer Ramzi Binalshibh through a remote video hookup.

The appellate judges said U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema's order "clearly is not a final one," because Moussaoui has yet to stand trial. The judges said that appeals courts have jurisdiction only to hear appeals from final orders.