Thank God. The Supreme Court today upheld the longstanding right of habeas corpus—essentially the bedrock of modern constitutionalism.

From the Times:

Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said the truncated review procedure provided by a previous law, the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, “falls short of being a constitutionally adequate substitute” because it failed to offer “the fundamental procedural protections of habeas corpus.”

Justice Kennedy declared: “The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times.”

What exactly will happen to the remaining detainees in Guantanamo is unclear. But fortunately the underlying issue—namely, the commitment of the United States to a universal right to due process—has been resolved.

Some of you may recall that we started a petition last summer to help things along in that regard. For those of you who signed it, we cannot thank you enough.