New 9/11 Judge at Guantánamo Quits After Two Weeks

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A U.S. flag flies above a fence at the detention facility at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Dec. 10, 2008, in an image reviewed by the U.S. military.

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«The fact that he was there for such a short time is a function of what a complicated mess this case is, said attorney James Connell, who represents one of the five 9/11 defendants, Ammar al-Baluchi, who is accused of funding the 9/11 hijackers.

In his two week tenure overseeing the 9/11 case, Keane issued two significant orders: He canceled all hearings in the case until next year, and he delayed the start of the 9/11 trial until at least August 2021, saying the delay was necessary due to pandemic travel restrictions and his need to familiarize himself with the case.

Legal proceedings at Guantánamo have been at a virtual standstill since February, when the coronavirus began limiting access to the island.

Investigations
Trial Of Sept. 11 Defendants At Guantánamo Delayed Until August 2021

After Cohen resigned and before Keane took over the 9/11 case, the chief judge of the military commissions judiciary, Army Col. Douglas K. Watkins, had been overseeing it on a temporary basis. Watkins is expected to oversee the case temporarily again until a new permanent judge is assigned, according to Connell.

The 9/11 case has been mired in years of «pre-trial hearings as military prosecutors struggle to bring the case to trial. Setbacks are frequent, including the following problems this year alone:

The former administrative head of the military court, Christian Reismeier, moved to a different role after being in his position for less than a year.

James P. Harrington, the lead attorney for one of the 9/11 defendants, asked to leave the case, citing health issues and «incompatibility with his client.