I just got word I’ll be working a the STL in the office of the Prosecutor this summer in Den Haag, Netherlands! The tribunal was created to try those accused (thought to be the heads of Syria) for the car bomb assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri.
Rafiq Hariri
The attack that took Hariri's life
I’m really excited because I have been doing a lot of work for the office during labs/classes at school and to now apply my knowledge first hand is a dream come true. It will also be awesome because from Sept – Dec. I’ll be working for the defense at the ICTY in Den Haag, Netherlands. Seeing both sides of a tribunal will be a great comparison of how international justice functions.
This came on the same day that Radovan Karadzic (a major defendent at the ICTY) decided that he was NOT going to boycott his trial and would be his own defense counsel (no attorney), well not completely – this really brilliant lawyer Peter Robinson is helping him create his defense but he will be acting as his own counsel.
Radovan Karadzic
Below is a link about what’s going on at the trial:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8542297.stm
Later this week I will post about the issues surrounding someone acting as their own counsel (Saddam etc.) there are some really interesting legal and not legal tactics pulled into the issue. I am not sure who I will be defending but will keep you updated as I know. I also don’t know how much I can post about my work (probably not a lot) but I’m sure we’ll be dealing with lots of interesting general legal/political issues this summer and fall and I’ll post discussions about those.
More about the STL this month – the tribunal is actually really interesting, and is an underdog fighting for legitimacy (I believe it is totally legitimate but others not so much).
It was a tough decision on if working abroad was the best thing for D and I right now (especially after a long deployment) but he was really excited and as a couple we think the experience will benefit us in the long run. Plus, this means he gets to visit his mecca (Munich) for Oktoberfest – and you know he couldn’t turn that down:) Just many more reasons I love that man so much.
Have a good Monday all!
