Hearing on Cuba Detainees Postponed

Citing allegations that he might have a conflict of interest, a Los Angeles federal judge postponed a hearing set for today to decide whether Afghan fighters are being held at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Geneva Conventions.

Civil rights lawyer Stephen Yagman filed papers earlier this week questioning whether U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz could properly decide the case because Matz’s son, Jeremy, is a prosecutor with the U.S. attorney’s office.

The U.S. attorney’s office is defending the Bush administration in the action brought by Yagman last month on behalf of a coalition of clergy, academics and lawyers.

On Wednesday, Matz issued an order saying he was referring the conflict-of-interest issue for review by another judge in accord with standard court procedures.

U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper was selected at random to decide whether Matz can continue to hear the case. There was no indication of when she might rule.

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said that Jeremy Matz is not assigned to the Guantanamo case. As a matter of strict policy, he said, Jeremy Matz has no involvement in any matters that come before his father.