Media seek court-martial files in WikiLeaks case
WikiLeaks, news media seek public access to documents in Army private's court-martial
FILE - In this June 25, 2012 file photo, Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, right, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md. Lawyers for Julian Assange argue before the U.S. military’s highest court for public access to legal documents in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the soldier charged with aiding the enemy for allegedly giving hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents to Assange’s secret-busting website WikiLeaks. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
·Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. military's highest court is hearing arguments on whether the public should have access to written records in the court-martial of an Army private charged with giving reams of classified information to the secret-sharing website WikiLeaks.
WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange are among those represented by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights at the hearing Wednesday before the Court of Appeals for Armed Forces in Washington.
They are seeking reversal of a lower court order denying them access to written motions, opinions and other records that are generally available in civilian courts.
The government contends the Freedom of Information Act provides the proper route for requesting such records. However, the military has denied such requests.
The Associated Press is joining other news organizations in supporting the appeal.
