The need for legislation, and associated time pressure, arose from the court case "A v Secretary of State for the Home Department". Ten individuals suspected of terrorism had been detained indefinitely under Part IV of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Nine of them appealed against their imprisonment; in December 2004 the Law Lords (then the court of last resort in the UK) granted the appeal, on the grounds that Part IV was incompatible with the Human Rights Act 1998. The suspects were not freed immediately, as existing powers allowed terrorism suspects to be detained up to 90 days without charge. The judgement effectively set a deadline of 14 March 2005 for parliament to pass alternative legislation which could be applied to the suspects without violating their human rights.