United States DC Circuit

Dismissal of claims involving allegations that the United States government forcibly removed plaintiffs from their homes on islands in the Indian Ocean in order to construct a military base is affirmed where plaintiffs' claims presented nonjusticiable political questions.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/16/2006
• Decided 04/21/2006
• Published 04/21/2006

Judges

• Before:  TATEL, BROWN and GRIFFITH, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Darrell Chichester, student counsel, argued the cause for appellants.   With him on the brief was Michael E. Tigar.  Aaron Lloyd, Ali A. Beydoun, Christine Parsadaian, Courtney J. Nogar, Debra L. Spinelli-Hays, Emily Creighton, James B. Cowden, Jennifer Dodenhoff, Karen Corrie, Laura Rotolo, Melissa Mandor, and Timothy L. Foden, student counsel, entered appearances.


• For Appellees:
  
• Mark R. Freeman, Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, argued the cause for appellees.   With him on the brief were Daniel Meron, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth L. Wainstein, U.S. Attorney, and Mark B. Stern, Attorney.  Dana J. Martin, Attorney, entered an appearance.