Federal judge to hear war objector's move to block court martial
SEATTLE (AP) - A federal judge in Tacoma is set to hear arguments Thursday on a bid by an Iraq war objector at Fort Lewis to bar his upcoming court-martial.
The move was scheduled to be heard at 3 p.m. PDT by Benjamin Settle, the newest judge on the U.S. District Court bench in Western Washington. Settle was sworn in last week.
Army First Lt. Ehren Watada is accused of missing his unit's deployment in June 2006. He's also charged with conduct unbecoming an officer for publicly denouncing President Bush and the war.
His lawyers say the Army is violating his constitutional rights by trying him twice for the same crime. Watada's court-martial at Fort Lewis ended in a mistrial in February.
The move was scheduled to be heard at 3 p.m. PDT by Benjamin Settle, the newest judge on the U.S. District Court bench in Western Washington. Settle was sworn in last week.
Army First Lt. Ehren Watada is accused of missing his unit's deployment in June 2006. He's also charged with conduct unbecoming an officer for publicly denouncing President Bush and the war.
His lawyers say the Army is violating his constitutional rights by trying him twice for the same crime. Watada's court-martial at Fort Lewis ended in a mistrial in February.