Career
Colwell served in the Marine Corps from his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1987 until his retirement in 2012. The Marine Corps sponsored Colwell to earn a law degree at Suffolk University. Colwell served as the senior Defense attorney for Guantanamo captive Ahmed Ghailani, prior to his transfer to the United States civilian justice system.
This request was denied.
He was appointed chief defense counsel in 2010. In late 2011 newly appointed camp commander David B. Woods ordered new, highly restrictive rules on lawyers" communications with their clients.
Woods ordered defense attorneys to surrender for review all documents they wanted to share with their clients. Legal commentators suggested that lawyers who complied with the order were putting their license to practice law at risk, as violating attorney-client privilege was a career threatening ethical violation.
Colwell ordered all defense attorneys to halt all communication with their clients, until Woods" order was withdrawn.