The Supreme Court has considered the rights of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba three times. On April 3, 2007, the court rejected an appeal by inmates to get access to federal courts and challenge their imprisonment as "enemy combatants." The justices have previously held that the prisoners can contest their confinement.

Jan. 18, 2002 President Bush declares detainees are not eligible for prisoner-of-war protection under the Geneva Conventions.

June 28, 2004 Supreme Court rules 6 to 3 that detainees can challenge their captivity in federal court.
July 7 In response, the Pentagon creates special military tribunals to determine each detainee's "enemy combatant" status.
Nov. 8 U.S. District Judge James Robertson orders the Pentagon to halt the trial of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, saying the military commissions are unlawful.

July 15, 2005 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously upholds Bush's powers to create military commissions, overturning Robertson.
Dec. 30 Bush signs the Detainee Treatment Act, which prevents the captives from filing habeas corpus petitions.

June 29, 2006 Supreme Court rules 5 to 3 that the military commission system violates U.S. and international law and that the Geneva Conventions apply to the detainees. (Opinion)
Sept. 28 In reaction to the ruling, Congress passes a new Military Commissions Act.

April 3, 2007 The Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal of the law, though the justices signal they may be willing to consider future requests from detainees.

June 29, 2007 The Supreme Court reverses itself and agrees to consider whether detainees at Guantanamo Bay have been unfairly barred from the federal courts by the Bush administration and Congress.

SOURCES: Staff reports, court documents, Defense Department
The Washington Post