W. Thomas Cumbie

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W. Thomas Cumbie is a senior judge in the United States Air Force.[1]

Cumbie is the United States Air Force's Chief Regional Military Judge, for the Atlantic Region.[1] Cumbie graduated from the law school of Florida State University in 1982. He served as a staff attorney for the Florida State Senate.

Cumbie became an officer by direct appointment, in 1985.[1]

Education

Education[1]
1979 Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology, Florida State University, Florida
1982 Juris Doctor, Florida State University, Florida
1987 Squadron Officer School (Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1995 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1996 Air Command and Staff College (Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2001 Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

Devery Taylor case

In 2007 Cumbie presided over the case of Captain Devery L. Taylor, an Air Force officer who was accused of administering GHB, the "date-rape" drug, to half a dozen men, and then raping or attempting to rape them.[2][3]

Presiding Officer, Guantanamo

Cumbie is notable for his appointment as a Presiding Officer for Guantanamo captive Mohammed Kamin's military commission.[4][5][6][7] On May 21, 2008 Cumbie ordered Kamin to be forcibly removed from his cell, to attend his first hearing. Four guards brought Kamin into the hearing room in four point restraints, and then shackled him, hand and foot, to his chair. Cumbie informed observers that the restraints were necessary because: "Mr. Kamin was not cooperative with the MPs and in fact attempted to spit on and bite one of the guards."

According to Carol Rosenberg, writing in the Miami Herald, Kamin's assigned counsel Lieutenant Rich Federico said his face was visibly injured when he was brought into the hearing room.[4]

When Federico told Cumbie that he had only learned the day before the hearing that Kamin's medical records, which had been withheld from him, might document that Kamin was mentally ill, and asked Cumbie to order those records to be released to him, Cumbie replied: "Let me think that one over and get back to you".[7]

When Federico raised ethical concerns over representing a client, against his will, Cumbie assured Federico that he had no ethical doubts, and ordered Federico to continue to serve as Kamin's counsel.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "United States Air Force: Colonel W. Thomas Cumbie" (PDF). United States Air Force. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25. mirror
  2. ↑ Melissa Nelson (February 21, 2008). "Air force officer accused for raping men". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25. mirror
  3. ↑ "Lawyer: Rape charges made to hide being gay". Air Force Times. February 22, 2008. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25. mirror
  4. 1 2 Carol Rosenberg (May 21, 2008). "Afghan dragged into war court, with scrapes". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25. mirror
  5. ↑ "US guards drag Afghan detainee to war-crimes court". Associated Press. May 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  6. ↑ Jamil Dakwa (May 22, 2008). "Boycott". Amnesty International. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  7. 1 2 3 Carol Chodroff (May 24, 2008). "Inside the Guantánamo terror trials". Salon magazine. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25. mirror
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