[JURIST] US District Judge Jed S. Rakoff [official profile] of the Southern District of New York on Thursday ordered the Defense Department to release uncensored transcripts, including detainee names, of 317 Combatant Status Review Tribunal [DOD materials] hearings held at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. In January, Rakoff ordered the Pentagon to reveal the detainees' names [JURIST report], rejecting the Defense Department's argument that releasing the names would violate the prisoners' privacy. Documents previously released have had prisoner identities and other details blacked out. The Pentagon has decided not to appeal the ruling, and Rakoff said Thursday that they must reveal the names by March 3.

The Associated Press [media website] filed a lawsuit [AP report] last April under the Freedom of Information Act [text] seeking the release of uncensored information about Guantanomo detainees. The Defense Department has said that it would comply with the order. AP has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase...

• Federal judge orders Pentagon to reveal Guantanamo detainee names
• Federal judge rejects DOD argument that releasing detainee names violates privacy
• Federal judge says Pentagon must act to reveal names of Gitmo detainees
• Judge says Gitmo detainees must be asked for permission to release names
• AP: Documents detail Gitmo detainees' claims of abuses and inaction