The Supreme Court has denied a request by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, to reinstate plea agreements. These agreements would have prevented the death penalty for him and two co-defendants. This decision keeps the possibility of capital punishment open as their military trial approaches in June 2028. The Supreme Court’s order list did not provide a reason for the rejection of the appeal. Justice Brett Kavanaugh recused himself from the decision due to his past role in the George W. Bush administration. The plea agreements, made in 2024, faced significant backlash from some 9/11 victims' families. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin later withdrew these agreements, stating the decision should be his. Mohammed and his codefendants appealed this withdrawal. A military court initially supported the defendants, but an appellate court ruled in favor of Austin. Mohammed and his co-defendants were first charged in 2008 for their alleged roles in the attacks. They have been detained at Guantánamo Bay since 2006. The tentative trial date is now set for June 5, 2028.