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U.S. praises court decision to throw out detainees' lawsuit

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department said Thursday it is pleased with a federal judge's decision to throw out a lawsuit brought by several human rights activists on behalf of the detainees held by the U.S. military at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"The court finds that sovereignty over Guantanamo Bay remains with Cuba," said U.S. District Court Judge A. Howard Matz in his decision Thursday, explaining why he has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

"The court understands that many concerned citizens here and abroad believe this case presents the question of whether the Guantanamo detainees have ANY rights at all that the United States is bound, or willing, to recognize. That question is NOT before this Court and nothing in this ruling suggests that the captives are entitled to no legal protection whatsoever," Matz said.

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Currently, 300 suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are being held at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo. Another 177 detainees are being held in Afghanistan.

The Los Angeles case was brought by a coalition of clergy, lawyers and professors, including former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.

The group had asked the court to declare that the detainees were held in violation of the U.S. Constitution without due process, without charges brought against them, and without legal counsel.

But the judge agreed with Justice Department lawyers who argued the coalition did not have legal standing to assert the claims on behalf of the detainees, and even if it did have the standing to bring the case, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain those claims.