Steven H. David

Steven David
Steven David addresses the Press, following a hearing, at Guantanamo, on June 5th, 2008
Justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 18, 2010[1]
Nominated by Mitch Daniels
Preceded by Theodore R. Boehm
Personal details
Born 1957 (age 5758)
Indiana
Nationality United States
Occupation military officer, judge
Known for Indiana Supreme Court, Boone County Circuit Court, military service
Website JusticeStevenDavid.com

Steven H. David (born 1957) is the 106th Justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana. David previously served as a lawyer and military officer, retiring from the United States Army Reserve in September, 2010 with the rank of Colonel.[2][3][4]

Biography

He served as a Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions the body authorized to conduct the military commissions to try Guantanamo captives. In October 2010 he was appointed a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court by then-Governor Mitch Daniels (R).

In 2008, while he was serving as Chief Defense Counsel, David complained that the Defense branch of the Office of Military Commission had not been allocated sufficient resources.[5][6][7][8]

According to The Times David called for the entire military commission system to be scrapped, following the conviction of Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, in August 2008.[9] He was critical of the way the commission had relied on hearsay evidence, secret testimony, and that evidence of abusive interrogation had been suppressed.

Notable Opinions

A majority opinion in "Barnes vs. Indiana", justice David is infamous for writing the controversial majority opinion stating: "We hold that there is no right to reasonably resist unlawful entry by police officers."

References

  1. "Indiana Judiciary: Current Justices". November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  2. Dwight Thurner (2010-10-02). "New Ind. Supreme Court justice swearing-in Oct. 18". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-02. A decorated Army officer who once served as chief defense counsel for Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sworn in as a justice on the Indiana Supreme Court on Oct. 18 at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. mirror
  3. "Daniels: Steven David to interpret rather than invent our laws". The Journal Gazette. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-10-02. Governor Mitch Daniels today announced he has selected Boone County Circuit Court Judge Steven H. David as the next member of the Indiana Supreme Court. David will replace Justice Theodore R. Boehm, who will retire from the court on September 30.
  4. "History unfolds". The Wire (Guantanamo). 2008-06-06. p. 12. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. How the trials will work 144. U.S. news & world report, Volume 144, Issues 1-6. 2. p. 83. Retrieved 2010-10-02. Steven David, head of the military defense for Guantanamo, has said he does not have enough lawyers or resources. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. William Glaberson (2008-02-13). "Doubts as six face death over September 11". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-10-02. Colonel Steven David, the chief military defence lawyer for the Guantanamo cases, said he did not have six lawyers available to take the cases, which the Pentagon described as a milestone in the "war on terror". mirror
  7. William Glaberson (2008-04-10). "New roadblocks delay tribunals at Guantánamo". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  8. "Capital cases in Kangaroo courts". Boston Globe. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  9. "Guantanamo: justice mocked -- The Pentagon must see sense and accept the verdict of its own tribunal at Guantanamo". The Times. August 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-02. Nor does it ensure that the other 19 detainees due to be prosecuted will have their rights protected. As Colonel Steven David, Hamdan's defence counsel, said afterwards, the trial was marked by the acceptance of hearsay evidence and secret testimony, restrictions on media coverage and allegations of abusive interrogations. It was time, he said, to scrap this “mess”. mirror