The military judge overseeing the Sept. 11 case has scheduled jury selection to begin in June 2028. The ruling sets a firm date for a long-delayed trial of the men accused of planning the attacks.
Prosecutors had requested an earlier start to the proceedings. The judge’s decision pushes the timeline back by several months. Court officials cited the complexity of the case as a factor.
The case involves five defendants held at Guantánamo Bay. They face charges related to the 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The trial has been stuck in pretrial hearings for over a decade.
The judge has not yet ruled on several key evidentiary issues. Those issues involve the defendants’ treatment in C.I.A. prisons. The court must determine how that torture affects the admissibility of confessions.
Defense attorneys argue the statements are tainted by coercion. They say the men were waterboarded and subjected to sleep deprivation. Prosecutors maintain the evidence is valid for trial.
The June 2028 date remains tentative. Appeals could delay the start further. Legal experts say the case may not reach a verdict for years.
Family members of victims have expressed frustration with the pace. Some have called for a military commission trial to move faster. Others accept the need for full legal review.
The judge’s ruling does not resolve the core legal disputes. Rulings on the torture evidence are still pending. Those decisions could shape the trial’s outcome.
