Editing Michael Ratner (section)

{{Short description|American lawyer (1943–2016)}}
{{pp-pc1}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Michael Ratner
| image              = Michael ratner2.jpg
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1943|6|13}}
| birth_place        = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2016|5|11|1943|6|13}}
| death_place        = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| relatives          = [[Ellen Ratner]] (sister)<br>[[Bruce Ratner]] (brother)<br>[[Max Ratner]] (uncle)
| education          = [[Brandeis University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Columbia University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
'''Michael Ratner''' (June 13, 1943 – May 11, 2016)<ref name="NYT obit"/> was an American [[Lawyer|attorney]]. For much of his career, he was president of the [[Center for Constitutional Rights]] (CCR), a [[non-profit]] [[human rights]] litigation organization based in [[New York City]], and president of the [[European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights]] (ECCHR) based in [[Berlin]].

Ratner is best known for filing ''[[Rasul v. Bush]]'', challenging President wartime detentions under [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="nyrb">[http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/05/15/michael-ratner-army-fight-against-guantanamo/ David Cole, "Michael Ratner’s Army: The Fight Against Guantánamo"], ''NYR Daily,'' 15 May 2016</ref> He was co-counsel in representing the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]] detainees in the [[United States Supreme Court]], which ruled for the detainees' right to test the legality of their detentions in US courts, saying that the Guantanamo base was effectively an extension of US territory and covered by US law.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2016/5/12/remembering_michael_ratner_pioneering_lawyer_who "Remembering Michael Ratner, Pioneering Lawyer Who Fought for Justice from Attica to Guantánamo"], ''[[Democracy Now!]]'', 12 May 2016.</ref>

Ratner was a president of the [[National Lawyers Guild]] (NLG) and the author of numerous books and articles, including the books ''The Trial of Donald Rumsfeld: A Prosecution by Book'', ''Against War with Iraq'', and ''Guantanamo: What the World Should Know'', as well as a textbook on international human rights. Ratner was the co-host of the radio program, ''[[Law and Disorder (radio program)|Law and Disorder]]''. He and three other attorneys hosted a [[Pacifica Radio]] show that reported legal developments related to [[civil liberties]], [[civil rights]], and [[human rights]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

Ratner was the brother of [[Ellen Ratner]], a radio [[talk show]] host and [[Fox News]] contributor, and [[Bruce Ratner]], a real estate developer and former [[New Jersey Nets]] majority owner. He graduated from [[Brandeis University]] on 1966. He received his [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[Columbia Law School]], where he graduated first in his class.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}