On 16 May 2011, the Supreme Court, without comment, dismissed the case of five men who claim they were subjected to enforced disappearance, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as part of the USA’s “rendition” programme. This abdication by the judiciary of responsibility for examining allegations of, and remedying where established, such grave human rights violations, leaving complainants and victims to the whims of the political branches of government, is in itself a cause for concern and leaves the USA in violation of its international obligations.
