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Call them the SALT of the earth, one of Long Island’s hidden jewels. SALT (Society of American Law Teachers), based at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, is the largest independent organization of law teachers in the country. Its goals include making the legal profession more inclusive, enhancing the quality of legal education, and getting legal representation to the people who need it the most.

SALT puts out position papers on a broad array of issues. Its most recent, just this week, is on the issue of torture. Here’s the nub of it:

“SALT calls for thorough and immediate investigations by the Congress and the Department of Justice of the circumstances under which torture was authorized, rationalized, and implemented. Those directly responsible for approving and executing the practice of torture, including the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Counsel to the President, and National Security Advisor, should be investigated and held accountable.”

That goes right to the point. Other organizations have taken somewhat similar positions, but it’s encouraging that a national organization based right here on Long Island is paying close attention to one of the defining issues of our era.