Peter Masciola
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Peter Masciola served as the Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions
in 2008 and 2009.
He was appointed in the fall of 2008.
Masciola was President of the Judge Advocate Association in 2001-2002.
On January 16, 2009, Masciola wrote:
Masciola stirred controversy in April 2009 when he fired William Kuebler, Guantanamo captive Omar Khadr
's senior military counsel.
Kuebler, in turn, suggested Masciola of a conflict of interest.
The two men have a difference of opinion as to what should happen to Khadr. Kuebler thinks Khadr should be repatriated to Canada, and undergo a supervised re-entry into civilian life. Masciola thinks Khadr's case should be transferred to the US civilian justice system.
Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen
, reported that Kuebler had, coincidentally, been called into Masciola's office when Masciola received the phone call that informed him that Colonel Patrick Parrish
had over-ruled him.
Citing an unnamed source the Citizen reported that Masciola was "not at all pleased" to learn Parrish wanted to over-rule him. Masciola did not accept Parrish's ruling, and continued to decline to allow Keubler to meet with Khadr, to access the case file. According to the unnamed source:
Masciola asserted that the Office of Military Commissions
rules did not oblige the provision of a particular lawyer.
Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen
, reported that the Canadian government believed Khadr was entitled to representation by "counsel of his choice", and speculated that Masciola's actions may trigger diplomatic repercussions.
Parrish scheduled a hearing for June 1, 2009, to consider whether Keubler should remain as Khadr's counsel.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Peter Masciola served as the Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions
Guantanamo military commission
The Guantanamo military commissions are military tribunals created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 for prosecuting detainees held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps.- History :...
in 2008 and 2009.
He was appointed in the fall of 2008.
Masciola was President of the Judge Advocate Association in 2001-2002.
On January 16, 2009, Masciola wrote:
Masciola stirred controversy in April 2009 when he fired William Kuebler, Guantanamo captive Omar Khadr
Omar Khadr
Omar Ahmed Khadr is a Canadian child soldier and one of the juveniles held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He was convicted of five charges under the United States Military Commissions Act of 2009 including murder in violation of the law of war and providing material support for terrorism,...
's senior military counsel.
Kuebler, in turn, suggested Masciola of a conflict of interest.
The two men have a difference of opinion as to what should happen to Khadr. Kuebler thinks Khadr should be repatriated to Canada, and undergo a supervised re-entry into civilian life. Masciola thinks Khadr's case should be transferred to the US civilian justice system.
Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
, reported that Kuebler had, coincidentally, been called into Masciola's office when Masciola received the phone call that informed him that Colonel Patrick Parrish
Patrick Parrish
Patrick Parrish is an officer in the United States Army.-Case of William J. Kreutzer Jr:ColonelParrish presided over the case of Sergeant William J...
had over-ruled him.
Citing an unnamed source the Citizen reported that Masciola was "not at all pleased" to learn Parrish wanted to over-rule him. Masciola did not accept Parrish's ruling, and continued to decline to allow Keubler to meet with Khadr, to access the case file. According to the unnamed source:
Masciola asserted that the Office of Military Commissions
Guantanamo military commission
The Guantanamo military commissions are military tribunals created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 for prosecuting detainees held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps.- History :...
rules did not oblige the provision of a particular lawyer.
Steven Edwards, writing in the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
, reported that the Canadian government believed Khadr was entitled to representation by "counsel of his choice", and speculated that Masciola's actions may trigger diplomatic repercussions.
Parrish scheduled a hearing for June 1, 2009, to consider whether Keubler should remain as Khadr's counsel.