Hamdi Goes Free

A lot of people are skeptical about the Supreme Court's ability to stand up to public opinion, to slap down executive power during wartime, and to create real effects through their decisions. But I would think we can all agree that if not for the Court's decision in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, Yaser Esam Hamdi would not be going free in the next few days:

The Justice Department has reached agreement with a U.S. citizen held as an enemy combatant for more than two years, clearing the way for him to return to Saudi Arabia, officials said Wednesday.

He will lose his citizenship, but otherwise faces no charges either in America or Saudi Arabia.