UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FAWZI KHALED A.F. AL ODAH, et al.,
Petitioners,
v. Civil Action No. 02-828 (CKK)
UNITED STATES, et al.,
Respondents.
MERITS HEARING PROCEDURES ORDER
(July 15, 2009)
This Order sets forth the procedures to be followed in connection with Petitioner Al
Odah’s Merits Hearing.1 It is, this 15th day of July, 2009, hereby ORDERED that counsel are
directed to carefully review this Order and to comply with each of the following items.
1. Scheduling. Petitioner’s Merits Hearing is scheduled for August 11, 2009, at 9:30
A.M., to continue on August 12, 2009, at 9:30 A.M.2 In connection with this hearing, the record
for the Court’s consideration shall consist of all evidence identified in the parties’ respective
Witness and Exhibit Lists and Petitioner’s testimony if he decides to testify. Motions for leave to
amend the parties’ respective Witness and Exhibit Lists, Respondents’ Statement of Facts, or the
underlying Factual Return and Traverse, must be filed no later than August 3, 2009.3 The parties
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This Order supersedes the Court’s June 16, 2009 Order, June 17, 2009 Order, and June
22, 2009 Order as they relate to Petitioner Al Odah.
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The Court shall notify the parties if any changes to these dates or times become
necessary.
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The Court has directed Petitioner’s counsel to submit a revised Exhibit List that includes
only those exhibits that relate to Petitioner Al Odah (as opposed to all of the Petitioners in this
case).
are on notice that any evidence that has not been identified in the Witness and Exhibit Lists and
disclosed to opposing counsel on or before August 3, 2009, may be excluded from consideration
by the Court. The two exceptions to the August 3, 2009 deadline shall be (1) documents offered
solely for the rebuttal of arguments made at the Merits Hearing that could not reasonably have
been anticipated prior to August 3, 2009, or (2) exculpatory information, as to which
Respondents have a continuing obligation to disclose to Petitioner.
2. Petitioner’s Participation. Petitioner’s counsel shall notify the Court on or before
August 3, 2009, as to whether Petitioner wants to listen to the unclassified opening statements at
his Merits Hearing.
3. Certification Regarding Exculpatory Evidence. For the reasons set forth in the
Court’s June 17, 2009 Order, Respondents shall file a Certification with the Court on or before
August 3, 2009, stating that they have completed their review of all reasonably available
information and disclosed all exculpatory evidence pursuant to the Amended Case Management
Order, this Court’s Discovery Orders, and the Court’s Orders dated June 16, 2009, and June 17,
2009.
4. Exhibit Book. On the morning of August 11, 2009, the parties shall present the Court
with a Joint Exhibit Book that contains the exhibits the parties anticipate presenting during
Petitioner’s Merits Hearing.
5. Intake Form. Respondents shall ascertain whether there exists an “intake form”
created when the United States took custody of Petitioner Al Odah. If such a form exists,
Respondents shall produce it to Petitioners’ counsel on or before August 3, 2009, and the form
must be included in the parties’ Exhibit Book as an exhibit. If such a form does not exist,
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Respondents shall file a Notice indicating the same on or before August 3, 2009.
6. List of Contested Issues. The parties shall confer with respect to the contested issues
that they expect to present during the Merits Hearing, and shall submit a Joint List of Contested
Issues to the Court on or before August 3, 2009.
7. Guantanamo Review Panel. Respondents’ counsel shall file a Notice on August 10,
2009, indicating whether the Guantanamo Review Panel has made any decisions relating to
Petitioner.
8. Merits Hearing Procedures.
(A) Opening Statements. The parties shall begin with unclassified opening statements,
with Respondents presenting their unclassified opening statement first. The parties shall confer
prior to August 11, 2009, to determine whether there are any disagreements as to what
information may be considered unclassified, and to resolve the same. If Petitioner chooses to
listen to the unclassified opening statements, Petitioner shall be responsible for translators and
Respondents shall be responsible for all other logistical arrangements. Following unclassified
opening statements, the parties shall present classified opening statements, with Respondents
presenting their classified opening statement first.
(B) Presentation of Evidence. The Court shall require an issue-by-issue evidentiary
presentation. Accordingly, Respondents shall make a presentation on a contested issue relevant
to Petitioner’s detention. Petitioner shall then respond to Respondents’ presentation through a
presentation of evidence and argument. Finally, Respondents may respond to Petitioner’s
presentation in rebuttal. The parties shall repeat this sequence for each contested issue raised by
Respondents. Petitioner shall then be given the opportunity to present a contested issue relevant
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to his detention that was not argued by the parties in the foregoing sequence, followed by a
presentation by Respondents, and Petitioner’s rebuttal. The parties shall repeat this sequence for
each contested issue raised by Petitioner. The Court expects that counsel for Petitioner and
Respondents will use electronic presentation devises to present their documentary evidence to the
Court. The parties should contact John Cramer, Office of Information Technology, to discuss the
equipment available to the parties.
(C) Closing Statements. The parties shall present classified closing statements.
Respondents shall present their closing argument first, followed by Petitioner. Respondents shall
be allowed to make a rebuttal closing argument.
9. Unanticipated issues. If any unanticipated issues arise after the close of business on
August 10, 2009, the parties shall first confer and attempt to reach a resolution. If the issue
cannot be resolved, the proponent of the issue shall FAX to Chambers by no later than 7:15 P.M.
on August 10, 2009, a succinct statement of the issue and legal authority, if applicable. The
opposing party shall FAX by no later than 7:45 A.M. on August 11, 2009, a contrary position
statement with legal authority, if applicable.
SO ORDERED.
Date: July 15, 2009
/s/
COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY
United States District Judge
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