Legal Dilemmas in a Dangerous World: Law, Terrorism, and National Security
Roger Williams University School of Law
Friday, November 9, 2007
The attacks of September 11, 2001 highlighted a series of dilemmas in law enforcement and national security strategy. How do we provide meaningful judicial review of decisions about detention and trial of alleged terrorists, while respecting legitimate national security interests? How do we provide the executive branch with flexibility in meeting new threats, while preserving accountability? How do we combat the flow of resources to international terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, while avoiding hardship and alienation among communities abroad whose cooperation we require in antiterrorist efforts? Finally, how do we reconcile zealous advocacy for unpopular clients with the protection of intelligence sources and methods? Too often, commentators on these subjects have viewed them as zero-sum games in which attention to one side requires sacrifices on the other. The experienced scholars and practitioners participating in this event will seek ways to resolve these challenging questions while reframing the issues presented.