Rob Wyda

Rob Wyda is an American lawyer and a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps.cite news
url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_509829.html
publisher=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
title=Judge: Gitmo work 'right thing to do'
author=Mike Cronin
date= May 28, 2007
accessdate=2007-05-28]

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Legal career

During 1993-1999 Wyda served as as a court administrator, and as an assistant district attorney, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.Wyda currently serves as a district judge, in Bethel Park, a town of 34,000 citizens, part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area — an elected position. Wyda was first elected to a six year term in 1999, and re-elected in 2005.

Military service during the "war on terror"

In 2003 Wyda spent time at the Bagram detention facility assisting in the investigations of detainees suspected of international terrorism.cite web
date=October 2003
url=http://www.courts.state.pa.us/scjap/journal/2004_10_journal.pdf
publisher=The Journal: Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvanis.
title=Rob Wyda, District Justice
accessdate=May 28
accessyear=2007
format=PDF] cite web
url=http://www.nrjag.org/feg-0401.htm
title=FlagpE-Gram 04-01
author=Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR
publisher=Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps
date=March 8 2004
accessdate=2007-05-28]

In 2006 Wyda served assisting the prosecution prepare cases against Guantanamo captives who faced charges before the Guantanamo military commissions.

Donald Guter, the dean of the Duquesne University School of Law, in Pittsburgh, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 22 2007.Wyda, like Guter, a graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law, offered the "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review" was extensively quoted in the "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review".

According to the Tribune-Review, Wyda said:quotation
* "The detainees are receiving humane treatment -- period,"

*"One of the detainees walked into court and said, 'I'm going to make this easy for all of you. I did what you've accused me of,'

:"It was chilling. It gave me goose bumps. It affirmed for me that what I was doing in (Guantanamo) was the right thing to do, to be a part of the mission to bring these evildoers to justice."

*"That's why these people are still detained ... These organizations are underground, so there's going to be a need for security and secrecy in fighting this war."

References