Victims’ authorized staff in ICC intact, protection ‘staff’ questioned

The prosecution fears that delicate info could also be disclosed to the six Filipino legal professionals on the Duterte aspect

There isn’t a longer a dispute on the composition of the victims’ authorized staff in Rodrigo Duterte’s case on the Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC), and in a reversal of fortunes, it’s the protection staff composition that’s being questioned by the prosecution.

On Monday, March 16, lead protection lawyer Nicholas Kaufman withdrew his request to be allowed to problem the appointment of Filipino legal professionals to the victims’ authorized staff. With out expounding on his causes, Kaufman mentioned the withdrawal is “with out prejudice to any additional recourse out there to the Defence as a way to elevate the difficulty of what it perceives to be an obstacle to illustration on the a part of the Widespread Authorized Representatives for Victims.”

Below the Rome Statute, obstacle to illustration is prohibited, and one of many components is that an individual who may probably be a witness can’t be a counsel. Kaufman had alleged that the victims’ case supervisor, Filipino lawyer Nicolene Arcaina, has such obstacle. The pre-trial chamber had already rejected Kaufman’s request in February, saying that the rule solely applies to individuals appearing as counsels, to not case managers.

Earlier than Kaufman withdrew his request, which sought to disqualify not simply Arcaina however the two Filipino counsels Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres, the victims’ legal professionals mentioned such request was only a delaying tactic.

“Protection Counsel has revealed a penchant, or maybe extra fittingly a technique, for techniques that merely delay and dramatize the proceedings, earlier than they even happen,” mentioned Butuyan and Andres of their reply to Kaufman’s request. That’s till Kaufman withdrew it, which implies the Widespread Authorized Representatives for Victims (CLRVs) staff is undamaged. The staff consists of Italian lawyer Paolina Massidda, who’s the assigned lawyer for victims from the ICC’s Workplace of the Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV), which is just like the Public Attorneys Workplace (PAO) within the Philippines.

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Six legal professionals on Duterte aspect

Meantime, it’s the protection “staff” that’s being questioned, notably as a result of Kaufman made an announcement that he’s “ably assisted and supported by” six legal professionals despatched by the Duterte household. Most of them had been members of the Cupboard when Duterte was president — Salvador Medialdea (former govt secretary), Salvador Panelo (former presidential authorized counsel), Silvestre Bello (former labor secretary), Martin Delgra (former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief), Caesar Dulay (former tax commissioner), and Alfredo Lim Jr.

The prosecution wished clarification on this, fearing that delicate info, particularly concerning the witnesses, are being disclosed to people who find themselves not members of the court-appointed protection staff, a lot much less to individuals who held excessive positions within the Duterte authorities. The prosecution despatched a submitting on March 10, requesting the pre-trial chamber that Kaufman ought to state on file that not one of the six legal professionals have had, or can have, entry to confidential disclosures.

At this level, authorized counsels permitted by the courtroom have entry to proof, together with the profiles and depositions of star witnesses, whose identities are nonetheless protected so far. We heard each groups refer to those witnesses by codes throughout the affirmation of costs hearings.

“These people are carefully linked to Mr Duterte. Some labored on Mr Duterte’s presidential marketing campaign, throughout which he introduced his intention to implement his frequent plan to kill alleged criminals nationwide,” mentioned the prosecution.

“The Prosecution subsequently requires clarification on whether or not these people are in actual fact members of Mr. Duterte’s defence staff as a way to conduct thorough danger assessments to probably oppose their appointment,” the prosecution added.

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{Qualifications}

Moreover, not one of the six legal professionals despatched by Duterte household are accredited counsels of the ICC. To apply earlier than the ICC, one should be a member of its impartial listing of counsels, vetted by the Court docket to ensure they meet the required standards resembling having “established competence in worldwide or prison regulation and process.” If the suspect chooses a counsel not on the listing, however meets the factors, that counsel should be keen to be a part of the listing. Assistants to counsel are vetted if they’re have both 5 years related expertise in prison proceedings, or particular competence in worldwide or prison regulation and process.

Except for accrediting somebody to apply earlier than the ICC, the courtroom can also be strict about who will qualify to be on any of the authorized groups, ensuring there may be not an oz. of battle. It beforehand disqualified chief prosecutor Karim Khan from the Duterte case, citing battle of curiosity as a result of Khan interviewed a demise squad witness, and helped ship a communication to the ICC, when he was a personal lawyer.

This was vital to the ICC as a result of the prosecution has a duty to seek out exculpatory proof, or proof that would absolve Duterte. This duty is of equal weight as discovering incriminating proof.

The correct to entry to exculpatory proof is partly why Kaufman additionally wished to disqualify the victims’ Filipino legal professionals. Of their response, nonetheless, Butuyan and Andres mentioned Kaufman “has not confirmed that alleged exculpatory proof is purportedly being withheld” from them.

Kaufman’s present accredited staff members embody French lawyer Dov Jacobs, who specializes on jurisdiction, which is a matter nonetheless being appealed by the protection staff. Kaufman was contracted by Duterte particularly for the affirmation of costs, and it stays to be seen whether or not he’ll nonetheless be the protection lawyer if and when the case goes to trial. – Rappler.com