Mohamed Kamel Bellahouel was secretly jailed after the Sept. 11 attacks. His court case was kept secret. It's now before the Supreme Court. The Bush Administration has filed a request to continue to keep the case secret. More than 20 media organizations have filed requests to open the proceedings.

Justices sometimes are asked to keep parts of cases private because of information sensitive for national security or other reasons, but it's unusual for an entire filing to be kept secret.

Lucy A. Dalglish, executive director of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said she was disappointed by the government's request. "The idea that there is nothing that could be filed publicly is really ridiculous," she said. "It just emphasizes our point that we're living in frightening times. People can be arrested, thrown in jail and have secret court proceedings, and we know absolutely nothing about it."

Behind the Homefront has much more on the case. The motion to intervene is here. The amicus brief is here. The case is The case is M.K.B. v. Warden, 03-6747.

Update: Arthur at Light of Reason has more.

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