Guantanamo judge schedules 9/11 case for June 2028
A military judge has set a June 2028 trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants in the Sept. 11 attacks, rejecting prosecutors' request for a January 2027 start. The judge cited the need for a more realistic timeline. The case has been ongoing since 2012 and is being heard at Guantanamo Bay.
The trial date of June 5, 2028, marks a significant milestone in a case that has seen five different judges since the 2012 arraignment. The judge’s order specifies that jury selection and challenges will begin that day, with opening statements following 30 days after the panel is seated. Prosecutors had pushed for a January 2027 start, but the judge deemed that timeline incompatible with the court’s procedural rules.
Mohammed and his co-defendants face charges linked to the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people across three sites. The proceedings have been repeatedly delayed by legal disputes over evidence, interrogation methods, and the defendants’ health. The new schedule reflects the complexity of managing a multi-defendant terrorism case within the military commission system at Guantanamo Bay.
This ruling could extend the emotional toll on victims’ families, who have waited over two decades for a resolution. The 2028 date may also affect public confidence in the military court system, as delays could be seen as either prudent caution or prolonged inefficiency. The case’s outcome could set precedents for how future terrorism suspects are tried, influencing both national security policy and legal debates about due process in wartime settings.