September 28, 2006 2:47PM 

# Habeas Corpus 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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Today’s *Washington Post* has this to say about the [detainee bill](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092701287.html) that is working its way through the Congress:

> Some of the fiercest debates focused on whether foreign terrorism suspects should have access to U.S. courts for challenging the legality of their detention, a right known as habeas corpus.

> House Republicans blocked Democrats from offering amendments, including one that would have extended the habeas corpus right to detainees.

Cato Institute [adjunct scholar](https://www.cato.org/people/epstein.html) Richard Epstein, criticized the proposals to curtail habeas corpus in this [statement](http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/Richard_Epstein_Statement_at_Senate_Hearing.pdf) to the Senate Judiciary Committee a few days ago.

For additional background on the writ of habeas corpus, read [this](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2632) and [this](https://www.cato.org/pubs/scr/2004/powerandliberty.pdf).

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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