A jury’s historic verdict against CACI Premier Technology, the U.S. company found liable for torture at Abu Ghraib, was struck down by the Sup Ct

 

Radical Supreme Court ruling brings end to 18-year fight for Abu Ghraib torture survivors

On Friday, a jury’s historic verdict against CACI Premier Technology, the U.S. company found liable for torture at Abu Ghraib, was struck down. Having previously upheld the $42 million judgment for three Abu Ghraib torture survivors, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it is no longer valid in light of the Supreme Court’s decision this past June gutting the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), the law under which the Iraqis brought their case.  “What we did in pursuing accountability for 18 years for the torture we suffered at Abu Ghraib was a big thing. We trusted a U.S. jury with our stories, and they believed us and sided with us – this is the most important part of the case,” said Salah Al-Ejaili, one of our clients in the case. “History will show that it was the Supreme Court that denied us justice.” “As radical and regressive as the Supreme Court’s decision in Cisco is, it will never change this fundamental truth: a jury heard voluminous testimony and unanimously concluded CACI was responsible for the torture and abuse of dozens of Iraqis at Abu Ghraib, including these plaintiffs, rendering CACI, in the words of a foundational ATS-human rights case, ‘hostis humani generis’ – an ‘enemy of all mankind,’” said Legal Director Baher Azmy. “We remain in awe of the bravery and dedication of our clients, who fought for 18 years for justice for themselves, their families, and other survivors of horrific human rights abuses. This Supreme Court may continue to do great damage to human rights cases, but it cannot take the courage and dignity away from our clients’ historic achievement.”   Read the rest of our press release on our website.

ccrjustice.org Mon, Aug 31 2026