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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Where Are the Shackles When We Need Them

Slate's Explainer explains what I have been wondering--why they don't just drag Karadzic into court since he is being detained down the street?
the optics would be wrong. International courts already struggle to assert their legitimacy, and applying force might make the legal process seem like a show trial or give on-lookers undue sympathy for the defendant.
 Oh, and a trial in absentia is better?  I don't think so.  The piece goes until to discuss how it is legitimate in this case because Karadzic is essentially allowing this to happen.  Still, not very pretty.

I vote for chains and drag his sorry ass into court. Courts are supposed to be coercive.  Those that let defendants run all over them are the ones that are seen as illegitimate.  Until ICTY can act like a real court, it is not going to be seen as a real court.

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