[JURIST] A federal judge on Monday ruled that the US Department of Defense [official website] must release the names of detainees being held as enemy combatants [JURIST news archive] at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. District Judge Jed Rakoff rejected arguments by the Pentagon that releasing the names would harm the privacy interests of the detainees' and their families. Rakoff ordered the Defense Department to release the names and transcripts of military hearings [DOD backgrounder] to Associated Press [media website] by Jan. 30. The Defense Department had requested that Rakoff to reconsider an earlier ruling that rejected its arguments but did not order the release of the transcripts. The Defense Department has until Wednesday to appeal the ruling to the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Reuters has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase…

• 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