Habeas corpus for all

Retired Navy Rear Adm. John D. Hutson on Monday joined a panel of retired military and naval officers urging that Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delay any action on the bill under consideration.

The habeas corpus right in question traditionally gives suspects in any court the right to challenge their detention. But the compromise on new legislation reached between the White House and key Republican senators last week would deny that right to terror suspects brought before a military commission.