Torture Evidence Banned in the U.K.

The U.K. House of Lords decided yesterday that evidence obtained from a prisoner by the use of torture cannot be used in a court case against that person. There are several terrorist cases working there way through the British legal system, and although no one suggests that torture has been used against any of the defendants, the ‘Law Lords’ have acted to clarify the rules. There may be an international impact from this decision: any extradition attempt by the U.S. of a prisoner held in the U.K. may now run afoul of the alleged torture being carried out by the U.S. or its surrogates. At the least a defense lawyer now can cast a reasonable shadow over such a case. This is a practical example of how the Bush administration is potentially hurting our ability to fight terrrorism by its attitude toward torture.

BTW: For those of you who are unaware, the members of the House of Lords known in the vernacular as ‘The Law Lords’ are the U.K. equivalent of the Supreme Court. I believe they are all retired High Court judges.