Area 51 lawsuit appealed to Supreme Court [news]
From: campbell@ufomind.com (Glenn Campbell, Las Vegas)
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 14:53:06 -0800
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Found at: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Aug-04-Tue-1998/news/7966878.html
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Tuesday, August 04, 1998
WORKERS' ATTORNEY APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT IN AREA 51 CASE
By Tony Batt
Donrey Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- The attorney for workers at Area 51, the
classified base in the Nellis Air Force Range, has filed an appeal
with the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a court order protecting
information about the base.
Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor,
claims two workers died from exposure to toxic waste burning at the
base, 90 miles north of Las Vegas.
"What happened was an outrage, and we will remain active in
pursuing justice," Turley said Monday.
Turley filed the appeal July 27, asking the Supreme Court to
overturn a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San
Francisco.
The appeals court, in a 3-0 decision on Jan. 8, upheld the Air
Force's claim that disclosure of the information Turley seeks could
endanger national security and violate a 1995 order by President
Clinton.
The appeals court ruled that five current and former workers at
the base and the widows of the two dead workers, all represented by
Turley, are not entitled to learn whether hazardous substances exist
at Area 51 or how they are handled. The court also ruled that the
results of a federal inspection of the base and even its name could
not be disclosed. Turley's request for a rehearing was rejected on
April 24.
Justice Department spokeswoman Chris Watney said Monday the
department has not been notified of Turley's appeal to the Supreme
Court but would have 45 days to respond "and we will."
The Supreme Court is out of session until October. When the
justices return, it should take about six weeks for them to decide
whether to consider the Area 51 case.
Turley acknowledged his appeal is a long shot, noting that few
cases are accepted by the Supreme Court. But he said the issues in the
Area 51 lawsuit should interest some justices.
"The 9th Circuit's ruling seemed to create new law in national
security as well as environmental law that contradicts past Supreme
Court rulings," he said. "This case has many of the elements the court
looks for. The question is whether a sufficient number of justices
will be interested."
Turley has raised his national profile in recent weeks by
appearing on several television talk shows to criticize Clinton's
actions in response to allegations of sexual misconduct with former
White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
"If the president had shown a fraction of the concern for the
workers (at Area 51) that he has shown for his own case, this case
would have ended long ago," Turley said.
The White House referred a phone call about Turley's comments to
the National Security Council, which did not respond.
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RELEVANCE OF THIS MESSAGE: Area 51
Index: 1998 Articles about Area 51 (#6)
Index: Groom Lake Hazardous Waste Lawsuit (#12)
Created: Aug 4, 1998
