"Dirty Bomber" suspect appeals to Supreme Court

From the Washington Post:

"Dirty bomb" suspect Jose Padilla has asked the Supreme Court to limit the government's power to hold him and other U.S. terror suspects indefinitely and without charges.
The case of Padilla, who has been in custody more than three years, presents a major test of the Bush administration's wartime authority. The former gang member is accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive device.

It will be interesting to see how the Court rules in this case, as I have already written about John Roberts decisions in terror cases as an appeals court judge, and with Harriet Miers withdrawing her nomination, the next Supreme Court appointment will be extremely important in this case and others. Sandra Day O'Connor has said she will remain on the bench until a successor is named, but how long this takes could have a huge impact on issues currently facing the Court, with the Padilla case a prime example.

--Tom Hayes