WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Friday it would hear appeals by Guantanamo prisoners arguing they have the right to challenge their confinement before federal judges, a test of President George W. Bush’s powers in the war on terrorism.

The court in April had denied the same appeals by the prisoners, but the justices in a brief order changed their minds and said they would hear and decide the two cases during the court’s term that starts in October.