Julian Assange can appeal against extradition, supreme court rules

[muriel_volestrangler]

The highest court in the land has granted permission for Julian Assange to appeal against his extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex crime allegations.

The supreme court said it would hear the appeal because the WikiLeaks founder's case raised a question on extradition law "of general public importance".

The two-day hearing will begin on 1 February, the court said.

The appeal will be heard by a panel of seven of the 12 supreme court justices "given the great public importance of the issue raised, which is whether a prosecutor is a judicial authority", a supreme court spokesman said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/16/julian-assange-appeal-extradition-court?newsfeed=true

[Ghost Dog]

1. Interesting. Are Swedish prosecutors also magistrates or judges? Is that the question?

Or are they focused on building a career, and a reputation, as prosecutors?

[dipsydoodle]

2. Probably more focused ..... as you suggested.

"Assange is wanted for questioning and not for charges"

>

“The prosecutor has never sought to explain why she has not engaged all other mechanisms [ie other than extradition] to progress this investigation … The reason there is a stand-off is entirely of Sweden’s making. What a waste of time.”

http://my.firedoglake.com/kgosztola/2011/07/13/decision-in-julian-assange-extradition-appeal-postponed-sweden-created-this-standoff-says-assange-lawyer/

nb above was the basis of the original appeal in July : not today.

[dipsydoodle]

3. It here in another Guardian link

At an earlier hearing his barrister, Mark Summers, argued that public prosecutors were not "judicial authorities" able to issue warrants under extradition law, and so the warrant was invalid. If Assange, 40, loses this appeal he may still be able to appeal against extradition to the European court of human rights in Strasbourg.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/16/julian-assange-appeal-seven-judges