Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal Hasan’s attorney tells News 8 he will ask a military judge Thursday morning to close the upcoming Article 32 Hearing for his client to the public and press. “I think it’s necessary to ensure he can eventually get a fair trial at Fort Hood,” (Ret.) Col. John Galligan, Hasan’s civilian attorney, told News 8 Wednesday. “We need to make sure his Sixth Amendment rights are not jeopardized.” The Article 32 Hearing is the military equivalent to a probable cause hearing in the civilian justice system.

Thanks WFAA.com for not referring to the Article 32, UCMJ, hearing as equivalent to a grand jury.

KWTX.com reports. Although they still persist in referring the to Article 32, UCMJ, hearing as equivalent to a grand jury.

The Army said Monday it has appointed an investigating officer for an Article 32 hearing, which will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a court-martial for Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who’s charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the deadly shooting rampage on Nov. 5 at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center.

KWTX.com reports.

Note the article incorrectly reports an Article 32, UCMJ, investigation as the equivalent of a civilian grand jury. It is not! It is closer to a preliminary probable cause hearing that some states have as an option to the grand jury, for example in Virginia. The 32 is way better than a grand jury.

Judge Pohl been appointed the IO, so we know it will be done right.