Awlaqi, a dual US-Yemeni citizen, had been approved for targeting killing by the Obama administration, an action that was challenged based on Awlaqi's US citizenship. In December, a judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia [official website] dismissed a lawsuit [JURIST reports] challenging the Obama administration's ability to conduct "targeted killings" in al-Awlaqi's case. Judge John Bates found that the court lacked jurisdiction over the case, filed by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Awlaqi's father, dismissing it on procedural grounds and noting that important questions remain. Bates heard arguments [JURIST report] in the case in November on the same day Awlaqi called for jihadist attacks on US citizens in a video posted on extremist websites. Earlier in November, Yemeni prosecutors charged [JURIST report] Awlaqi with incitement to kill foreigners, and he was later sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison.