Michael Mori
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| Michael D. Mori | |
|---|---|
| Born October 4, 1965 | |
| Nickname | Dan |
| Place of birth | Beverly, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1983-present |
| Rank | Major |
| Awards | Navy Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal |
Michael Dante Mori (born in Beverly, Massachusetts, October 4, 1965) is a Major (United States) in the United States Marine Corps. While he is largely unknown in his home country, he has become a household name in Australia as the military lawyer and public advocate of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Matthew Hicks.[1]
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[edit] History
Major Mori spent four years in the enlisted ranks, reporting for training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. After attending Norwich University, a military college located in Northfield, Vermont, and graduating in 1991, he became an officer in the Marine Corps. In 1994 he graduated from the Western New England College School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts, before being admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts. He is married and has twin boys. A sister lives in Australia.
[edit] Hicks case
Mori was appointed by the United States Department of Defense to represent Hicks in November 2003, and continues to handle Hicks' case as of March 2007. Mori has been featured on numerous occasions in the Australian media in relation to developments in Hicks' case, and he has expressed concern over Hicks' extended interrogations.[1]
Major Mori's defense of Hicks has been marked by extensive advocacy of his client in the public and political sphere. He was one of the 2005 recipients of the American Civil Liberties Union's Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award, which was presented "to the five military defense lawyers who represented the first round of defendants at the Guantánamo Bay tribunals and challenged the entire military commission system."[2]
In August 2006 Mori engaged in a lecture tour in Australia on behalf of David Hicks, where he charged the Bush Administration with creating an illegal military tribunal system that violated Hicks' rights.[3] Major Mori also attended a rally in Adelaide in support of Hicks and led a march to the office of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
On November 10, 2006 Mori attended the signing of the Fremantle Declaration by the attorneys-general of the states and territories of Australia. Federal Attorney General Philip Ruddock refused to attend. The declaration urges judicial fairness be applied in Hicks' case to protect the legal rights of Australians at home and abroad. Mori said "It's disheartening that federal ministers won't fight for an Australian citizen to have the same rights as an American."[4]
On March 5, 2007, Colonel Morris Davis, the chief prosecutor in the Guantanamo military commissions, accused Mori of breaching Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, relating to use of contemptuous language towards the US President, Vice-President or Secretary of Defence. Penalties potentially include jail and the loss of both employment and accrued entitlements.[5] Mori is concerned that, having to defend himself from charges made by Davis, he is facing a conflict of interest and may not be able to effectively represent his client, forcing David Hicks to again face further delays. On March 6, 2007, Colonel Morris Davis stated "I'm not aware of anybody, anywhere that has any intention of charging Maj Mori with anything", further noting "I would be absolutely dumbfounded if this kind of thing rose to that level."[6]
Following Hicks' departure from Guantanamo Bay to complete his sentence in Yatala Prison, South Australia - on or about May 20 2007 - Mori was re-assigned as a staff judge advocate, or legal adviser, to the commanders of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Major Mori has been passed over for promotion twice since taking on the Hicks case and will be assessed again in October 2007.[7]
Presented in June 2007 with an honorary membership of the Australian Bar Association for his defence of David Hicks.[8] In October 2007 Mori was awarded a civil justice award from the Australian Lawyers Alliance as "recognition by the legal profession of unsung heroes who, despite personal risk or sacrifice, have fought to preserve individual rights, human dignity or safety".[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Hicks' lawyer concerned over Guantanamo interrogation, mirrored Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 10, 2004
- ^ American Civil Liberties Union (2005). Military Lawyers Honored for Challenging Guantánamo Policies. Retrieved August 13, 2006.
- ^ Australia: Thousands hear US military lawyer for David Hicks World Socialist Web Site, September 5, 2006
- ^ A-Gs demand immediate action on Hicks trial Australian Broadcasting Corporation, November 10, 2006
- ^ Hicks trial at risk if Mori taken off case The Age, March 5, 2007
- ^ Prosecutor denies Mori charges, March 6, 2007
- ^ Mori reassigned to 'Top Gun' Marine base. 22/05/2007. ABC News Online
- ^ "Mori honoured for 'fearless' Hicks defence", ABC News, 2007-06-20.
- ^ "Major Michael Mori humbly accepts justice award in Hobart", ABC News, 2007-10-12.
[edit] External links
- Bulletin article May 26, 2007
- Biography from the Australian National University
- Marine Defends Guantánamo Detainee, and Surprises Australians, New York Times
- US major attacks Guantánamo justice, The Guardian
- ACLU biography
- Major Michael Mori, ninemsn, February 15, 2004
- US Federal Court judge rules Guantanamo Military Commissions unconstitutional, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, February 1, 2005
- Interview: Major Michael Mori, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 14 August 2006.
- Australia: Thousands hear US military lawyer for David Hicks, World Socialist Web Site, 5 September 2006.
