United States DC Circuit

Dismissal of plaintiffs' suit against the U.S. government and a former secretary of state seeking damages for actions allegedly taken in support of the Pinochet regime in Chile approximately 30 years ago is affirmed on the ground that the plaintiffs' claims presented a nonjusticiable political question.

Appellate Information

• Argued 03/27/2006
• Decided 06/09/2006
• Published 06/09/2006

Judges

• Before:  GINSBURG, Chief Judge, and ROGERS and BROWN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Aaron Lloyd, Student Counsel, argued the cause for appellants.   With him on the brief was Michael E. Tigar.  Ali A. Beydoun, Christine Parsadaian, Courtney J. Nogar, Debra L. Spinelli-Hays, James B. Cowden, Karen Corrie, Laura Rotolo, Melissa Mandor, and Timothy L. Foden entered appearances., William H. Goodman and Jennifer M. Green were on the brief for amicus curiae Center for Constitutional Rights in support of appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Robert M. Loeb, Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, argued the cause for appellees.   With him on the brief were Gregory G. Katsas, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth L. Wainstein, U.S. Attorney, and Barbara L. Herwig, Assistant Director.