Pollard Seeks Supreme Court Hearing

JTA - February 9, 2006

Jonathan Pollard asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his case.

In a petition filed Wednesday, Pollards attorneys asked the high court to overturn a federal appeals court ruling that denied them access to classified information used to sentence the former U.S. Navy intelligence officer to life in prison for spying for Israel.

Pollard's attorneys said they need to see the documents to make Pollard's case for clemency. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled last year that the federal courts lack jurisdiction to review claims for access to documents for clemency, which the court said is the 'presidents sole discretion."

Eliot Lauer, Pollards attorney, said clemency remains Pollard's most viable option for release, and that access to the documents would allow his attorneys to show that many of the supposed repercussions of Pollards actions never occurred.

See Also: The U.S. Court Case Page