U.S. Supreme Court Grants Guantanamo Bay Detainees Habeus Corpus Rights

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The United States Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Guantanamo Bay detainees have the right to habeas corpus, it is a stunning blow to the Bush administration that has said the detainees aren't protected by the American Constitution.

The 5-4 ruling was the third decision since 2004 against the Bush administration's treatment of the prisoners who are being held indefinitely at America's prison at a naval base in Cuba. It overturned a ruling that upheld a 2006 law that denied the rights of the detainees to seek a full judicial review of their detention.

It is unclear if granting habeas corpus will result in prompt hearings for the 270 suspects being held at Guantanamo.

The Bush administration had argued against granting the protection of habeas corpus to the detainees because they are suspected of having links to terrorism, or al-Qaeda or the Taleban. In ruling Justice Anthony Kennedy reportedly said, "The laws and constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times."