(CNN) -- The Supreme Court's ruling that the military tribunals set up by the Bush administration were unconstitutional triggered a wave of reactions throughout Washington and beyond.
Below are excerpts of reactions from leaders of legal organizations, a key lawyer, Republicans and others. (For a sampling of Democratic reactions,
click here.)
"The Supreme Court has made clear that the executive branch does not have a blank check in the war on terror and may not run roughshod over the nation's legal system. This decision moves us one step closer to stopping the abuse of power that has become the hallmark of this White House. Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decision, the president should make good on his promise and close Guantanamo."
-- Anthony Romero, American Civil Liberties Union "What the court is holding, at least by the plurality, if they want to pursue the conspiracy charge that's against him, that means we go to the federal courts right now. ... But if there's other evidence, and they want to charge him with a war crime, then I'm ready to defend him in a court-martial."
-- Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift, lawyer for terror suspect Salim Ahmed Hamdan "I'm sure we'll look at other means to provide them justice under our laws, international law. We might look to the federal system and other means which to provide them. There also could be acceleration of efforts to return them to their native countries, to the extent those countries will accept them."
-- Sen. John Warner (R-Virginia) "There is no way for President Bush to continue hiding behind a purported lack of judicial guidance to avoid addressing the illegal and immoral prison in Guantanamo Bay. Significantly, the court decided that the Geneva Conventions apply to the so-called 'War on Terror' -- people must be treated humanely and the administration cannot put itself above the law."
-- Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights
