JURIST - Paper Chase: Trial date set for only US officer charged in Abu Ghraib abuses

[JURIST] The US Army on Tuesday set a trial date for Lt. Col. Steven Lee Jordan [Wikipedia profile; CBS profile], the only military officer to face charges in connection with abuses of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive] in Iraq [JURIST news archive]. In July 2008, Jordan will face a court-martial for seven violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) [text], including disobeying a superior commissioned officer, dereliction of duty, failure to obey a regulation, false swearing, cruelty and maltreatment, and interfering with an investigation. Jordan's lawyers seek dismissal of the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 22 years.

Last month, the US Army announced Jordan would be court-martialed [JURIST report]. Jordan, the former director of Abu Ghraib's interrogation center, was charged [JURIST report] in April 2006 for failing to prevent the use of intimidating dogs, forced nudity, humiliating photography poses, and other abusive techniques. Prosecutors claim Jordan subsequently lied to investigators about the abuses. AP has more.

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