David Cole

Legal Affairs Correspondent

@DavidColeACLU

David Cole is The Nation’s legal affairs correspondent, and national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Real Lesson of the Padilla Conviction The Real Lesson of the Padilla Conviction

If it had followed the rule of law from the outset, the Bush Administration could have brought many terrorists to justice by now.

Aug 18, 2007 / David Cole

‘There Is No Law’ ‘There Is No Law’

It's now up to the Supreme Court or the Democratic Congress to overturn the Military Commissions Act and restore our right to habeas corpus.

Mar 6, 2007 / David Cole

Hiding the Ball Hiding the Ball

Bush's about-face on warrantless surveillance demonstrates what a difference a Democratic majority makes.

Jan 25, 2007 / David Cole

An Immodest Proposal An Immodest Proposal

Modesty is a virtue, but rather than telling the courts to practice restraint, the Bush Administration should rein in its own abuses of power.

Nov 22, 2006 / David Cole

Sanctioning Lawlessness Sanctioning Lawlessness

What's more important to Congress: America's standing in the world and the rule of law, or partisan advantage in the midterm elections?

Oct 8, 2006 / David Cole

Knock on Wood Knock on Wood

The Bush Administration's illegitimate use of renditions, disappearances, torture and an illegal war has fostered the growth of a loose-knit global band of fanatics willing to do u...

Sep 8, 2006 / David Cole

The ‘Kennedy Court’ The ‘Kennedy Court’

By casting the decisive vote in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and other contentious disputes, Justice Anthony Kennedy plays a crucial role in a Supreme Court that may soon veer off in an extr...

Jul 14, 2006 / David Cole

Lost in Translation Lost in Translation

Good translators speak for others, not for themselves. So why is a translator for Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman being prosecuted as a co-conspirator?

Apr 27, 2006 / David Cole

Patriot Act Post-Mortem Patriot Act Post-Mortem

The failure of a complaisant, Republican-controlled Congress to enact meaningful changes to the Patriot Act means that midterm elections are the only true path to reform.

Mar 16, 2006 / David Cole

Tortured Exceptionalism Tortured Exceptionalism

Despite a recent federal district court ruling, the prohibition on torture knows no geographical boundaries and applies to all, no matter what passport they hold--even Americans.

Feb 23, 2006 / David Cole

x