The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) States Parties, the decision-making body, has been debating recognising an International Criminal Bar as an official advisory body for maintaining a list of available defence counsel.
The global bar was established at a Montreal conference in 2002 and has adopted its own constitution and organisation. Its application for ICC recognition was considered by the States Parties at its meeting last week in New York. Under the court’s rules, its registry has to “consult with any independent representative body or legal associations” over the membership of its panel of defence lawyers.
ICC registrar Bruno Cathala is assembling a list of counsel for approval at the next States Parties meeting, expected next September, along with the application for recognition. Cathala said he was “committed to ensuring that lawyers would represent different legal systems” and that training should be provided by the court.
Former Stolt-Nielsen counsel called to give evidence
The former general counsel of chemical shipping company Stolt-Nielsen has been dragged into an investigation of his former employer. The US Department of Justice has called Paul O’Brien to appear today (24 September) before a grand jury in an action that could lead the government to repeal the antitrust immunity it granted Stolt in January. […]