![NY judge to decide on release of new Abu Ghraib photos](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein will hear arguments Monday from US Department of Defense lawyers and attorneys from the ACLU [advocacy website] concerning whether photos taken by Spc. Joseph M. Darby [Wikipedia profile] of Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive] will pose a danger to US military personnel if they are released. The government's brief [PDF text], backed with a signed affidavit [PDF text] from US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Richard B. Myers [official profile], argues that releasing the photos "would ignite protests and spur violence" similar to the previously retracted story concerning alleged mistreatment of the Koran [JURIST report]. Lawyers for the ACLU argue [ACLU brief, PDF] that the government is trying to "avoid accountability" by concealing the images and ensuring they are not released. The proceedings will be closed to the public while the photos are presented to the court. The ACLU has a list of relevant legal documents. Cox News Service has more.