High Court Orders Preliminary Hearing With Precedent-Setting Implications In Geoff Campbell 9/11 Inquest Case

In a highly unusual development that is being welcomed by the family of British 9/11 victim Geoff Campbell, the High Court has ordered a hearing on the preliminary issue of whether the attorney general’s decision to deny the family’s application for a fresh inquest is “justiciable” — i.e., whether it is subject to legal challenge and review by the courts. (Read the order.)

While at first glance this hearing may seem like a procedural obstacle to the family’s goal of opening a fresh inquest, it is actually quite positive. The court could have simply dismissed the Campbells’ case without ruling on the unsettled issue of “justiciability” if it had deemed the case to be without merit (which the court did in a previous case challenging the attorney general’s decision to deny a fresh inquest). Or the court could have ruled on the justiciability issue without a hearing. The fact that it has ordered this hearing implies that the Campbells’ case is strong, both on the justiciability issue and on the substantive matter of whether the attorney general’s decision is lawful.

Furthermore, the case is now being treated as one of “public interest,” with precedent-setting implications on the question of whether attorney general decisions should be reviewable by the courts. The public interest designation will likely result in more attention from the British media and should reduce any costs that the Campbell family will be ordered to pay toward the government’s attorney fees in the event that the family loses.

The preliminary hearing is expected to take place in March or April. Should the Campbell family prevail at the preliminary hearing, their application for permission to seek judicial review would very likely be granted. They would also have a good chance of prevailing at the substantive hearing, which would probably happen later in the year.

Matt Campbell (the brother of Geoff Campbell) and Ted Walter (IC911 executive director) will be sharing more about this encouraging development at a special session of 9/11 WarRoom next Monday, December 16, at 5:00 PM Eastern. It will also be an opportunity to honor Geoff’s memory on what would have been his 55^th birthday.

Please join Matt and Ted and 9/11 WarRoom hosts Sandra Jelmi and Gene Laratonda next Monday. And stay tuned for further information in the weeks and months ahead!

Past updates

Bereaved family awaits initial High Court decision after British AG refuses to grant fresh 9/11 inquest (November 2024)

Family of 9/11 victim Geoff Campbell set for legal showdown after British AG refuses to withdraw unlawful denial of new inquest (October 2024)

Family of British 9/11 victim files High Court challenge to AG’s unlawful denial of new inquest (October 2024)

Neil Oliver interviews Ted Walter about British 9/11 family’s fight to reopen inquest into son’s death (September 2024)

George Galloway covers British 9/11 family’s fight for new inquest on 23rd anniversary (September 2024)

Inside the Fight to Reopen Geoff Campbell’s Inquest: An Interview with Matt Campbell and Ted Walter (March 2024)

Campbell family to take on British AG in fight to reopen son’s inquest and prove Twin Towers were destroyed by controlled demolition (March 2024)

Family of 9/11 victim vows to keep fighting for new inquest after UK Attorney General denies them a second time (January 2024)

In major victory for 9/11 family, UK attorney general withdraws decision to deny family’s application for new inquest (September 2023)

9/11 family denied new inquest by UK Attorney General, will seek judicial review (July 2023)

UK Family Seeks New Inquest into Son’s Death on 9/11, Rejecting Claim that Airplane Caused Collapse (August 2021)